4x4 Magazine UK August 2016

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www.4x4i.com
MAGAZINE
The original Off-road and 4 Wheel Drive magazine August 2016 5.00
75 YEARS OF THE MIGHTY
JEEP
SPECIAL
TRIBUTE
ISSUE
JEEP
75TH ANNIV
ERSARY
1941 - 2016
THE STORY OF AN ICON

SPECIAL TRIB
LEGENDARY
UTE TO A
MARQUE
Buying Modifying Historic Military Technical
August 2016 27
www.4x4i.com
4x4 August 2016 5.00
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OPENING TRACK
Whats in
a name?
After 75 years, Id certainly say
the name is now ofcially a legend
W
e take so much for granted these days, especially when mangling the English
language. Quite often, we use words generically, when actually they are brand, or
even company names, long forgotten. When wrapping a parcel youll be looking
for the sellotape, and youll write the address with any old biro you can find. Go
Mark Bolan for an off-road drive in the winter and youll be looking for a warm coat, but not the one with a
broken zipper, and youll make sure you have a full thermos of tea. To be correct, those
claimed sentences should be written to include, Sellotape, Biro, Zipper and Thermos, since they are all
brand or company names. Apparently, these are called proprietary eponyms (dont worry, I had
he was a to look that up) or its a form of metonymy (yep, looked that up as well). Why is that of interest?
Well, in this issue we have a tribute to a famous name, celebrating one manufacturers
importance, not just in the world of 4x4s, but in the global history of motor vehicles.
jeepster for Congratulations to Jeep on 75 years of continued existence. Over that time, the company
has brought us a superb range of 4x4s (well, mostly), and also giving the world the jeep. Now,
your love. A all readers of this magazine would know the difference between a real Jeep and a jeep-like
vehicle, but to the general public, its often a useful description of a rough, tough vehicle, thats
big motoring ready to cover any sort of terrain. Over the years, Ive even heard small children at off-road
shows point at an early Land Rover and squeal, Cor, what a great jeep! Now you have to
fan, he was laugh at that. Then, older readers will surely remember that there was the famous eln pop star
Mark Bolan who claimed he was a jeepster for your love. He was actually a big motoring fan,
also capable besides being capable of mangling the English language to a great beat. No one had ever heard
the word jeepster before, but all understood exactly what he meant, or could guess!
We have 40 plus pages this month dedicated to the Jeep, as a small tribute to an iconic
of mangling brands 75th Anniversary. Now we havent offered a dry, blow-by-blow account of the history
although we have dabbled with a feature on some weird and wonderful original oddball military
the English Jeeps! We have tried to cover the essence of what Jeep really means to us 4x4 enthusiasts;
and by that we mean Jeep with a capital J. We have looked at buying, owning, driving,
language to a modifying, keeping in top-tip technical condition, and just lusting after. We have dipped a little
into the history, thanks to some great photographs produced by the manufacturer to celebrate
great beat the anniversary. Indeed, one picture really struck a chord with me, and thats the one on page
31. Take a look yourself; it has the very latest Jeep, the impressive Renegade, juxtaposed with
an original military Jeep. There is 75 years between the two vehicles, little linking them in
production terms, yet the lineage is clear, distinct and obvious. And that doesnt happen by
chance. While the Jeep brand has been handled, and mishandled, by a variety of different
owners since 1941, that essential ingredient that makes a Jeep a Jeep remains. And thankfully
we all know what that means!
Heres hoping youll enjoy the issue.
Nigel Fryatt, Editor
OFF-ROADING WITH US THIS MONTH

Rob Hawkins meets the wide boys this month, father and son duo that will build you some wide wheels
for that extra rubber. Roll round to page 66
Its not all about Jeeps this month. Regular Russ Ryan follows the story of St Brendan Its muddy in Croatia, and if its Trophy time,
overlanding enthusiasts Karin-Marijke Vis leaving Ireland and travelling to Iceland, in the then it will be raining. Robb Pritchard gets his
and Coen Wubbels have taken their Toyota process meeting the enigmatic Trondur boots on to stomp through the forest to get
Land Cruiser to Chile. Warm up on page 88 Pattursson. Follow this amazing story on page 96 his report back to us. Clean up on page 102
www.4x4i.com August 2016 5

AUGUST 2016
36
YOUR 4X4 LIFE 110

Auction News
Pick-up Latest Focus on: Jeep
for all from the Patriot
Oddball 4x4s
seasons Clubs Lets Go Off-road
6 August 2016 www.4x4i.com

OUR JEEP TRIBUTE
JEEP 1941-2016 27
Our Special 43 page section celebrating Jeeps 75th Anniversary.
All things Jeeps, new and old, standard and modified
BUYING GUIDE 30
What you need to look out for when buying a second-hand
Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee or Grand Cherokee
OUR FAVOURITE JEEPS 40

18
Personal choices from the magazine staff
THE AEV OPTIONS 44

When a standard Jeep just isnt good enough. Check out
what Nene Overland has from the excellent AEV range
JEEP CONCEPTS 2016 50
82
Signs of things to come? We can but hope
RUBI, RUBI, RUBI 52

One mans bespoke Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
STORM WARNING
Exciting Wrangler conversions from Jeepey
58
88
HISTORICS 62
Nine very significant Jeep models collected together
MILITARY JEEPS 66
Take a history lesson the military way
JEEP DOCTOR 72
Comprehensive technical advice for Jeep owners
JEEP DIRECTORY 80
Where to contact the experts
FIRST DRIVE: EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE 16

What do you get when you pop the top off the highly
successful Range Rover Evoque? A new marketing opportunity
FIRST DRIVE: TOYOTAS NEW HILUX 18

We hop over to Namibia to get a first drive in the doyen of the
pick-up truck. Will Toyotas new Hilux remain top dog? 102
REPLICA G-WAGON RACER 82
In 1983, a production Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon won the
REGULARS
prestigious Paris-Dakar Rally. Heres one mans tribute OPENING TRACK 5
Celebrations all round
ADVENTURE: GETTING HOT IN CHILE 88
Remarkable tale of driving the Atacama Desert, braving the NEWS AND VIEWS 10
freezing conditions with the help of the hot springs The latest from around the world
ADVENTURE: IRELAND TO ICELAND 96 LITTLE AT LARGE 16

Following in St Brendans footsteps... well almost, since his trip Looking forward after 75 years...
was by small boat while Russ Ryan takes his Defender OUR 4x4S 106
Latest update from the fleet
SPORT: CROATIA TROPHY 102
Its possible theres a tougher event than this one, but surely not COOKES COLUMN 130
a wetter one! Robb Pritchard gets drenched for the cause Chrysler Hemi off-roaders

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News & Views
INSIDE THE WORLD OF 4X4
CONCEPT TO REALITY
NEW XLV EXTENDS THE SSANGYONG 4X4 RANGE
WE COMMENTED ON SsangYongs concept this is a serious model, sales in its rst year in SsangYong models do come very well
vehicle the XLV Air when it was shown at the Europe are expected to top 100,000. equipped, together with a ve year limitless
Frankfurt Motor Show last year, that it looked This model is built on the existing Tivoli mileage warranty. Made in South Korea,
close to a production vehicle to us. Well, that platform but has a signicant extension yet actually majority owned by the Indian
was certainly the case and the new Tivoli XLV beyond the C-pillar, which expands the load engineering concern Mahindra & Mahindra,
has now been revealed as a full production space considerably, to a claimed 720 cubic there are now some 60 SsangYong dealers
model, due to be available in the UK later litres. It is powered using the same 1.6-litre in the UK. If you are looking for a small
this summer. Now for many, the SsangYong e-XDi160 Euro 6 diesel engine, and has the competent SUV with a lot of luggage space,
brand is still something of an unknown quality. same intelligent four-wheel drive system. this latest XLV model could well be worth
We have said before that we are surprised SsangYong also claim that with, a 167mm a look. In the metal, the XLV looks a smart
that the Korando Sports pick-up doesnt sell ground clearance, approach angle of 20 offering and seemingly more rugged than the
in the numbers it deserves, and so it will be degrees, 20.8 degree departure angle, and 17 smaller Tivoli. Prices will be announced later
interesting to see what happens with the XLV; degree ramp angle, a highly competent off- this summer and we hope to bring you our
however, to give you some indication that road capability is assured. rst drive report in a forthcoming issue.
The Tivoli 4x4 (above and left) has been a success in Europe. The new XLV
model (top and right) increases the range and offers more interior space

TOYOTA JEEP MERC
HILUX TRIBUTE G-WAGON
PAGE 18 PAGE 27 PAGE 82
NISSAN AND MITSUBISHI ALLIANCE

TO FURTHER CONFIRM that motor on joint platforms, as well as joint plant
manufacturing is indeed a global business, utilisation and the sharing of technology.
and that companies now work together, Given that Mitsubishi has had such sales
rather then compete individually, Nissan success with the hybrid PHEV 4x4 model,
and Mitsubishi have announced a new and Nissans battery technology, logic
Basic Agreement to form an extended would mean that we are likely to see even
strategic alliance. The two companies more alternative power source models
have been working together for the last in the future. In nancial terms it seems
ve years, but analysts consider that that Nissan will buy a signicant number
this development could indeed be far of shares in Mitsubishi, to become the
reaching. This will mean models built largest shareholder.
JEEP MARKET
CONTINUES
TO GROW
GIVEN THAT THIS is our Special Tribute
Issue to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of
the Jeep brand, its appropriate to conrm
that the manufacturer has just announced its
best UK market share since 1997, reporting
a staggering 115 per cent increase in year-
on-year monthly registrations this April. It
seems that the Renegade is leading this sales PRINCE HARRY GOES OFF-ROAD!
increase with 1058 models sold obviously AS YOU READ this, the excellent 2016 Sports around a specially built obstacle
this is because we awarded the excellent Invictus Games will have nished. An course, and the Danish team for the Jaguar
small SUV our 4x4 Of The Year 2016! Have impressive event, to support injured driving course. JLR CEO, Dr Ralf Speth,
you been noticing the magazines logo at servicemen and women, you may not have was at the event and commented: We are
the end of all those ash TV advertisements been aware that there was actually a driving extremely proud to be the presenting partner.
lately? And the fact that we awarded the challenge event in the Games. Jaguar Land We are all grateful to HRH Prince Harry for
Wrangler our Hardcore 4x4 Of The Year 2016! Rover is a major supporter of the Games, founding and championing this visionary
Congratulations all round we think, and well and HRH Prince Harry is the very enthusiastic idea of the Games. We congratulate him and
worth our magazines celebrations. The latest founder and patron. The JLR Driving the organising committee on establishing
75th Anniversary Special Edition models Challenge was actually the opening event yet another inspiring Invictus Games. If you
are now available. The Cherokee version is of this years Games in Orlando Florida, and saw any of the coverage on the TV, youll
pictured here, and yours for 38,945. Only Prince Harry made sure he was fully involved, agree that it was indeed inspiring. The only
8000 75th Anniversary versions will be built, and not just sitting in the VIP area and downside? It seems that at the end of the
and thats across the entire range, for sale offering the occasional royal wave. The Prince Driving Challenge, HRH Prince Harry had to
throughout Europe; right-hand drive models joined the Estonia team on the Land Rover award the gold medal to the French team
will therefore be rare and very desirable. course where teams were driving Discovery Oh well, theres always the next Games!
ROBSON GREEN EXPLORES

LATER THIS AUTUMN, actor, Explore Campers, fully equipped our vehicles offer.
well-known sherman and one-time right down to the last tea spoon, If you are interested in hiring one
crooner Robson Green will be which is good news as he does of these Defenders, suitable to carry
presenting a new TV programme like a good cuppa. Peter Clucas of four people, you can do so from the
called, Tales from the coast. He Explore Campers told 4x4 Magazine: companys base near to Manchester
will be doing this from behind the We are really privileged that Robson Airport. Prices for a four-day hire
wheel of a Land Rover Defender and the ITV team have chosen our start from a very reasonable 490.
110, supplied by the guys at Explore Defender Campers to be part of the If you are interested, email info@
Campers. The idea is for Green to programme, and Robson is a great explorecampers.com or visit their
visit some wild and remote areas of adventure travel presenter, who website www.explorecampers.com
the UK in one of these fully-equipped ideally reects the outdoor lifestyle for more details.

News & Views
BOXERS 50TH And briey...

ANNIVERSARY
Car crime in the UK has increased some
eight per cent in the last year, with over 81,000
vehicles stolen. It seems a great many classic
YOU KNOW YOU are getting old when cars are stolen and broken up and sold for
anniversaries arrive, and being told that parts. Need a Defender bonnet anyone?
Subaru is this year celebrating the 50th year
of the Boxer engine is certainly one such time. The fourth edition of Tom Sheppards
TRUCKMANTOPSOUT
Subarus horizontally opposed piston designed excellent Four-by-Four Driving book has now
engine was named the Boxer due to the been published. Absolutely jam-packed with
fact that the engines pistons resemble the useful information for any SUV owner or 4x4
THE RECENT COMMERCIAL Vehicle Show at the punch-counterpunch notion of a boxers sts. enthusiast, the latest version is available for
NEC was a big success for the British pick-up hard It is claimed that this design reduces vibration 28.50, direct from publisher Desert Winds
top specialist Truckman. Great response to all the and is actually better balanced than a normal Publishing. Check out www.desertwinds.
latest products from the 20,000 trade attendees to the upright piston engine. The compact nature co.uk. Its not available via Amazon.
show where able to see tops for the brand new Toyota of the design has also meant that it can be
Hilux, the new Nissan NP300, revised Ford Ranger installed lower in the chassis, thereby reducing You know its summer when we get sent
and Isuzu D-Max and VW Amarok. It was indeed the centre of gravity, great for an off-roader. press releases that tell us the 10 oddest
impressive to get the new Hilux at the show, since that The rst engine was tted to the Subaru 1000 items ever found in British cars are:
was even before the international launch of the new (pictured), which was actually a two-wheel drive headstone (with the customers name on it),
model (full report of our rst drive is on page 18 of this passenger car unveiled on 14 May 1966. Today live python, prosthetic hand, sex toy, live
issue). Mike Wheeler, Managing Director of Auto Styling every vehicle in the Subaru range is tted with hamster (rescued from behind the glove
Truckman, said: The CV Show always provides an a Boxer engine, with total production over the box you will be pleased to know), 10,000
excellent opportunity to network and share the latest last 50 years now topping 16 million units. It engagement ring, live cockerel, birds nest
product developments in the automotive industry. This should also be noted that earlier this year, and (not in the same car as the cockerel), kitten
years show was particularly impressive and our team as previously reported in News, the Japanese and a pair of false teeth.
enjoyed sharing our innovations with a record crowd. company celebrated 15 million models tted
We invest a great deal of time and effort perfecting with the Symmetrical AWD system all of them Used car specialists HPL Motors recently
our British-built products and were delighted with the tted to a Boxer power unit, obviously. surveyed motorists on their opinions on the
reception they received. recent MPG scandal. They asked on a
scale of one to ve how important accurate
TOP RANGE TOUAREG fuel economy gures where when buying a

car and over 50 per cent opted for four or
THE POPULAR VOLKSWAGEN Touareg is ve. A massive 74 per cent wanted a
quite a well-equipped large SUV, with a decent universal and independent fuel economy
ability off-road, and now gets a new model that MPG testing procedure.
ups the luxury quotient, but perhaps means
it will not be taken too far off-road. The new Signs of things to come? London has
R-Line Plus has 21-inch Mallory alloy wheels, now opened its rst public access
SOUTH COAST 4X4

together with the Area View technology that hydrogen refuelling station, at the National
offers the driver a full 360-degree birds-eye Physical Laboratory in Teddington. The
exterior view of the SUV. Design tweaks include
the Piano Black exterior trim, and Vienna leather
upholstery. In total, the R-Line Plus gets some
& OVERLAND SHOW station is supported by Toyota, Hyundai,
Renault and Honda.
THIS SUMMER WILL see the rst ever South Coast
3255-worth of extras, but the premium over
4x4 and Overland Show. The venue is the famous
the usual R-Line model is only 1160. The new
Bovingtone tank training grounds in Dorset, a venue
Volkswagen R-Line Plus is expected to account
that you will have seen on episodes of the BBCs Top
for an amazing 50 per cent of all Touareg sales,
Gear as it was a favourite choice of Clarkson and Co
showing yet again that the demand for SUVs is
(good restaurants nearby obviously). The Show will be
always for the most luxurious and expensive
taking place over 6-7 August and apparently besides
models in most manufacturers ranges.
the actual trade stands, there will be the opportunity
for you to drive off-road. Two camping options are
available; for the brave there is wild camping in the
When was the last time you checked out
woods, while there will also be a regular campsite,
your tyres? Next month we take a look at
complete with toilets and showers.
what is available for the SUV owner, right
If you want to nd out more about the South
up to the serious off-road enthusiast. We
Coast 4x4 and Overland Show, go to www.
also have the maddest Lada Niva you will
southcoast4x4.show, or email info@southcoast4x4.
have ever seen, have a buying guide for the
show. You can also call 01202 422385 - if you do,

traditional but still highly effective
make sure to say that 4x4 Magazine sent you.
SsangYong Rexton, a service guide for the
4X4 OFF-ROAD QUOTE OF THE MONTH Volkswagen Touareg and the latest episode
form our good friends Andy and Emma
Smith who are travelling around the world in
We relish the heat of the hot spring for an hour or so. Theres just the

800 days in their trusty Toyota Surf. All that
two of us, stark naked and nobody around for miles. We treasure the and much more, so why not consider a
peace and quiet after two intense days of driving subscription? Full details of the best offers
SOURCE: From the latest part of Karin-Marijke Vis and Coen Wubbels remarkable life sto
ory, can be found on page 94 of this issue.
this month driving their Toyota Land Cruiser through Chile

HILS EVERITT
Happy
Anniversaries
This month our columnist joins in the celebrations for the
Jeep, and looks forward to exciting models to come
W
e like a significant anniversary
here at 4x4 Magazine. For
2016, there have been two
notable landmarks. Weve had
the Isuzu 100th anniversary with the D-Max
being the only model here in the UK and a
particularly popular one at that celebrating
the fact with its 100th anniversary Venetian
Red Blade model. Only 100 were made and
were actually only different from the standard
Double Cab with that paint job and Blade
written in black on the front doors. I sort of
expected a bit more of a show than that for
such a significant anniversary, but perhaps
Isuzu has more development issues on its
mind at the moment?
This month in the magazine, we are
celebrating a very important 4x4 milestone,
which is the 75th anniversary of the iconic
Jeep. Time has own since the 70th
anniversary celebrations where I marked the Jeeps latest model, the Renegade, looks set to take the brand to even greater things
occasion at Goodwood Revival salivating over
lots of lovely vintage Jeeps on the ofcial stand
that featured an American Diner serving up all spy shots show the same body shape, more were also hearing of an eight-speed gearbox.
sorts of retro snacks, music and great or less, with exposed door hinges but wider Bring it on.
costumes. Jeep is making its mark this year arches. The body-on-frame construction In the meantime, we can relish all these
by hosting the biggest ever Camp Jeep in remains as does the solid front axle, but we prospects and celebrate another major
Basella, Spain where hundreds of Jeep know that weight will be reduced with some milestone for the great granddaddy of the
owners and enthusiasts from all over the world use of aluminium in the bodywork. Even the off-roader. We can also revel in the latest
gather together to celebrate their beloved Wrangler has to bow to the need for better production gures from SMMT that has
brand of 4x4. Much of the talk, no doubt, will fuel economy in this environmentally conscious European and UK sales of Jeeps at record
be of the new JL Wrangler due out next year world and we are thankful for that. highs in April it was the UKs leading
and the Wrangler pick-up that will follow. Its a We are more than thankful that our new manufacturer in terms of growth at an increase
pity we arent getting the new Wrangler this best in class rugged off-roader wont change of 115 per cent, with the Grand Cherokee still
year to coincide with the anniversary. too dramatically, and with the Defender out of selling well and the marvellous Renegade
Spy shots all over the internet show that the production lets hope some old diehard Land topping the charts at 1058 sales. Its all
general appearance of the manufacturers Rover fanatics will consider the new Wrangler looking good - the new Wrangler JL and
most capable and rugged 4x4 will not change JL as the best option. As you can read in my subsequent pick-up cannot come too soon.
dramatically. It wont turn into a leisure SUV feature on the latest Rubicon modication Talking of true off-roaders and another vehicle
like its peers; take the Suzuki Vitara a former carried out by the founder of the Jeep Owners that should benet from the lack of Defender
great off-roader that has lost its mojo, even Club here in the UK, the club is nding production is the all-new Toyota Hilux. I tested
though there is a 4x4 lock mode. Those Jeep previous Land Rover owners moving over to the 16 model in the Namibian desert recently;
the dark side once they have seen what the you can read about it on page 18. Sufce to
Wrangler can do rst hand and how much less say, it still lags behind rivals for performance
they have to pay for it and how much more with an engine that doesnt really produce
reliable it could prove to be. reworks on the road as even truck owners
The speculation about the JL engine come to expect these days; but off-road is
options is that the petrol V6 Pentaster engine where it excels. New features have turned an
is expected to stick around in 3.6-litre form already great off-roading truck into a brilliant
and the US, as well as Europe, should get a one, plus the styling has improved immensely. I
new turbodiesel unit. Rumour has it there am sad that Toyota hasnt up-rated its power
could be a 3.0-litre diesel option plus a mild plant to meet current standards in a highly
hybrid. A more powerful, cleaner and more competitive sector that is growing all the time as
efcient diesel power house than the outgoing newcomers arrive and old timers get updated.
2.8-litre will be a welcome move and we keep Good though the Hilux is, you have to wonder if
Will Toyota regret not upgrading the Hilux engine? our ngers crossed that it will materialise that could prove costly... Hils

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FIRST DRIVE
Evoque Convertible
OPEN ALL HOURS

Not originally designed to ever be an open-topped SUV, the
Range Rover Evoque Convertible moves the already highly
successful model into some interesting new markets
Words: Nigel Fryatt
I
t had sounded such a flippant, trite, in its range. What that means is that
question, that I can confess to when you chop the top off, the
wishing I hadnt said it the moment it original monocoque design structure
came out of my mouth. The answer cannot cope, since much of the
was, therefore, something of a surprise. structures torsional rigidity goes
The question was to Jaguar Land immediately. Bagnall did indeed admit
Rovers Vehicle Programme Director, that making the new monocoque rigid
Danella Bagnall, and I simply asked that enough was a serious engineering
when you wanted to make a convertible challenge. This could be said for any
Evoque, do you actually slice the top off manufacturer wanting a convertible
a regular model, just to see what version of an existing saloon model,
happens? Surprisingly, it seems that was but they do not have a model that will
indeed part of the initial programme, as be expected, indeed demanded, to
Bagnall explained: We obviously did a retain condent off-road ability. Driving
lot of computer work first, but we did a vehicle off-road adds increasing
some hands-on work removing a roof, stress to any 4x4 design, for one that
and what we found was then fed back no longer has a roof holding the
into the computer programmes. structure together, is stress indeed.
Oh, that it could be that simple! You dont have to be in Bagnalls
Given the phenomenal success of the company for long to realise that stress
Range Rover Evoque, it seems an is not part of her vocabulary, and after
obvious move. Since the launch in 29 years as an engineer with JLR, a
2011, over half a million models have problem is just a solution you havent
been bought, making it the fastest found yet. It seems annoying to have to
selling Land Rover ever. Add to that the comment on Bagnalls gender, but
fact that some 80 per cent of owners given she is the rst female Vehicle
have been completely new to the brand Programme Director at JLR it's
and the Evoque is the denition of a signicant and if she has her way, she
motoring success; one in the eye for wont be the last!
the traditional Land Rover detractors. The actual solution to the engineering
It is important to point out, however, problem looks quite simple when viewing
that the Evoque was not originally the cutaway engineering drawings.
designed to have a convertible model Additional high-strength steel has been

situation has been addressed. The
A-pillars are strengthened with Boron,
and from here two aluminium bars are
red out within 90 milliseconds, should
the Evoque experience extreme roll
added to the sills, together with angle rates. It is claimed that these
strengthened pillar bases to the chassis 'cannot be activated during normal
oorpan. Its claimed that the Convertible off-road application'. Its something that
now has torsional rigidity that is we would like to see demonstrated, but
comparable to the hardtop models, not sure wed want to be in the back
which is impressive. when it happened. Its also unlikely that
And it is immediately apparent when the convertible will be driven off-road
taking the Evoque Convertible on the that much, but will certainly be used at
road; top down, of course. It would be winter sports venues.
wrong to say it feels just the same as Who will buy this vehicle? Since it is
the hardtop, for one thing with the roof the very rst luxury off-roading SUV
down you obviously dont get the convertible, even the marketing guys at
enclosed cocooned impression that the JLR arent completely sure. They believe
coupe has. But you dont get any it will shake things up in the market,
rattles and squeaks either. The only and look at saloon models like the
negative affect that is a little alarming is Mercedes E Class, Audi A5 and BMW
the way that the door glass rattles 4-Series as similar luxury convertibles.
when you slam the doors shut. Its As this is being written, JLR has already
something that you notice with any received over 1500 orders. It will be
convertible and is due to the fact that produced at the Halewood plant, with
with the roof up, the door windows the coupe models, at present a Land
actually move slightly inwards to seal Rover comes off the line every 80
with the roof. And seal they do. Our test seconds. Think about that for a while
drive included all that an English spring If this is a new model for a new
day can offer; we thoroughly enjoyed generation of Land Rover owners, then Top left: There
the open topped option with blue sky it is appropriate that it is the rst model remains a surprisingly
and sunshine, but also appreciated the in the range to have the companys good boot area, even
fact that you can raise the roof while on latest InControl Touch Pro infotainment with the hood folded aboard ubiquitous blobs, sit back and
the move (up to 30mph) and so avoided system. This means that the central merely think work ofce, pub or
getting hit by a heavy hailstorm that 10.2inch touchscreen console works in Top right: The Auntie Veras to be whisked away by
rolled over. That dramatic weather much the same way as a tablet and Evoque's hood our invisible chauffeur But I digress.
change occurred as we hit a section of smartphone allowing you to swipe, folding mechanism is What this vehicle will prove is that there
dual carriageway, where motorway pinch and zoom on the screen. It will impressive; smooth, are a lot of people who want something
cruising at 70mph conrmed that inside also work with apps, so you will be able quick and precise different, and who want to still feel the
the cabin it is quiet and rened; to plan your route at home on your enjoyment of wind in the hair motoring.
conversations do not need to be raised. phone or tablet in advance of driving Below: The Evoque As you would expect, engine options
Is it as quiet as a hardtop? Probably and then sync directly when you get in coupe is a competent match those of the coupe. We drove in
not, but its very close. The roofs the car. Its all wonderful wizardry that off-roader when the 180PS Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel
mechanism is an impressive thing to will become standard in all vehicles over driven properly. The version, although it is possible to have
watch. Its claimed to be the widest and the coming years, presumably until we convertible has been the Si4 petrol model, both mated to Land
longest folding convertible roof tted to do away with drivers and so have no designed to be just as Rovers nine-speed automatic gearbox.
a production car. For the four door need to plan anything and will climb good in the mud The diesel engine coupe version has
versions it is said that rear legroom is never been thought of as a sports car,
the same as the coupe, and headroom but it is sprightly. For the convertible, the
equivalent to the hardtop ve-door extra strengthening needed (thought to
versions. Whether you like what the have added some 200kg) has taken the
Evoque convertible looks like with the initial edge of the vehicles performance.
roof up is a subjective, and probably It felt a touch sluggish when on the move
worthless, comment; its not the vehicle from low speeds, but on the motorway
for you, obviously. With the roof down, was still an effortless cruiser. Opting for
the Evoques high bodyline does make the 240PS petrol engine version could
it look quite a muscular convertible, but well be model of choice for those
given its off-road abilities, including a wanting a bit more grunt.
500mm wading depth, thats probably Prices are, as you would expect for a
just as well! Sensors in the wing mirrors JLR product. The diesel version starts
tell you the depth, but then youll at 47,500 for the HSE Dynamic, rising
probably have rear passengers dangling to 51,700 for the LUX version. For the
their arms over the side to let you know petrol model the HSE Dynamic is
when its getting too deep 48,200 and the LUX a mouth watering
With the roof folded, there is a 52,400. Will they sell at those prices?
surprising amount of boot space. There Now that really is a stupid question.
is also the option of through loading
for your skis. And lets be honest, this
vehicle will sell to those who want to WE LIKE: Wind in the hair
enjoy top-down winter motoring on motoring with off-road ability
snow, on your way to a days skiing.
Well you would, wouldnt you! WE DISLIKE: Sluggish feel to
Safety for a convertible in a rollover diesel, slamming the doors

FIRST DRIVE
Toyota Hilux
The eighth generation Toyota Hilux takes

a step up in off-road prowess and on-road
sophistication. We put it through its paces in the
deserts and mountain passes of southern Africa
Words: Hils Everitt Photography: Hils Everitt and Toyota
W
e couldnt see a damned thing. A paces in the desert and along the treacherous of the M4, was exhilarating. We ploughed on
thick veil of white obscured the tracks that cross southern Africa. As our through miles and miles and miles of stunning
road ahead like contrails coming convoy was rather large and there was no landscape that evolved from at sand as far as
from an airliners jet engines. wind, nestled in the middle of the convoy the the eye could see to glorious rocky mountain
Didnt quite expect this, we thought, rather dust created by dozens of sets of Bridgestone outcrops that soared into the brilliant blue sky.
nervously. We slowed even more, to under Dueller A/T rubber obliterated the road ahead. Our speed uctuated around from under
30kph, as the terrain ahead became invisible We didnt expect it to be so dusty, barked 35kph to about 80-ish kph, with the speedo
to the naked eye. out our guide and 4x4 expert Hein Truter over only topping out at 120kph on a few occasions
You could be forgiven for thinking we were the CB radio. The westerly breeze normally - but what a ride! It made us want to go back
driving through thick fog on the M25 in clears the road quickly, he said with a laugh. on our own, to speed along these roads with
autumn. But you couldnt be more wrong. We Great, we thought, as fellow guide Andrews no dust trail, the mountains looming above us.
were actually on a beautifully straight gravel/ voice responded from somewhere out of the The new Hilux European spec is built in
rocky/sandy track dissecting the Namib Desert gloom: See the zebras on the right ahead? Durban, South Africa, so delivering 25 trucks
in Namibia. We were tackling the tricky Erm... sadly, no! from the south east coast of the Republic to our
elements at the invitation of Toyota, putting the Despite the clouds of dust, the drive along start point in Swakopmund on Namibias south
brand new Hilux pick-up truck through its the brilliant C14 highway, Namibias equivalent west coast was far easier than transporting them

V6 petrol unit. We couldnt help wishing
we had the larger capacity engines
before the foray into the dunes; the
previous model had a 3.0-litre unit
option alongside the older 2.4-litre
engine. Would the latest version of the
smaller engine be good enough?
The rst stretch of dune driving was
fairly straightforward - some deep, at
areas with a few humps and bumps to
negotiate. There is a technique to dune
driving. You need enough power to get
you through the soft terrain, but not so
much that you over-rev and end up
digging holes, even with that much larger
tyre footprint. Our rst real Hilux test was
with the new six-speed manual gearbox.
The rst section was conquered quite
easily, but then came the true test of the
engines oomph: a one in four-ish
ascent. The guys with the auto boxes
had the easy job; just ram the throttle,
drive straight and up she goes. With the
manual, we needed to ick into third
gear as quickly as possible. There were
one or two failed attempts in the group
as that change was not quite achieved
in time. You need to be in third by that
tiny bush, shouted our guide. That was
after only a few metres so it needed a
real racing start.
But in third, foot to the oor, the
148bhp 2.4-litre sailed up without a
hitch. Getting stuck meant a tricky
reverse down. With all the gouged-out
tracks, the Hilux was getting thrown all
all to a continental location - despite this over the place, in teetering angles,
being the 'European launch'. It also whenever the climb failed, but it held its
meant that we could really test the new ground immaculately.
models off-roading prowess to the max, Hill starts on this Namibian dune
as Swakopmund just happens to lie in were not an option, but the new Hilux
the desert and extremely close to some so we let the tyres down from 33psi to does have a range of masterful
impressive, humongous sand dunes. about 12psi. Dune 7 loomed ominously electronic aids, which have made an
In fact, our Day One morning dune Our rst drive in ahead, and there were a few gasps of already excellent off-roader into a
drive was on Dune 7 in the Namib the latest Toyota wow, that looks a challenge. brilliant performer. There is now Hill-start
Desert the seventh largest dune in the Hilux was certainly This eighth generation Hilux was Assist Control (HAC), for slightly more
world, hence the name. After a short a memorable one; going to tackle the steep ascents under sedate climbs, and manually operated
drive along C14, we turned off and cresting some the power of the brand new 2.4-litre Downhill Assist Control (DAC). Engage
found ourselves at an activity centre that enormous sand D-4D engine. This is the only that and, in four-low rst gear, the Hilux
offers dune driving and various other dunes and tackling powerplant available in Europe. The rest demonstrates incredible engine braking
adventures. First task was to increase some seriously tough of the world has more options, such as and you can crawl down the steepest
our footprint for the deep, steep sand, mountain tracks the four-cylinder 2.8-litre diesel and a of dunes in complete control.

FIRST DRIVE
Toyota Hilux
That was beautifully demonstrated the terrain conditions, reducing body

immediately after our steep climb. pitch - plus there is a brand new
Reaching the top of the dune, the Hilux suspension system. The leaf-sprung
came to a halt and we could see only and twin-shock-absorber rear
sky through the window. Off we went, suspension has been extensively
DAC engaged, rst gear and sauntered revised to improve off-road articulation.
down an almost vertical drop. At one We were to experience further the
point, however, the throttle needed a improved off-roading ride the next day,
gentle squeeze as, frankly, it was getting on a technical off-road course through
a bit dull! Without the DAC engaged rst the Spreetshoogte Pass in the Naukluft
low still gives good control at snails- National Park. Above: When the
pace; ratios have been adjusted to It was another crack-of-dawn start, as dust settled, the vista
provide a 10 per cent lower rst gear. we had many more gravel road miles to was simply stunning!
There is also a rear diff lock on the new notch up later in the day. The track
model, which we didnt require in the leading out of our mountain camp at Below: Enthusiastic
dunes, but it came into its own the next Namibgrens was the start of the off-road driving on soft
day during more off-roading pleasure. mountain course a very different sand with low tyre
And theres also the A-TRC system, prospect from the dunes. Today we pressures did lead to
which locks any wheel thats slipping. swapped over to the six-speed Super a few problems, with
The Hilux now has the same 2H/4H/4L Intelligent Electronically Controlled Super some tyres actually
dial that youll nd in the Land Cruiser; ECT auto transmission. That was a coming off wheel rims
and Toyota is billing the new trucks 4x4
capabilities at Land Cruiser levels;
welcome progress indeed.
Helping that progress is the new
ladder-frame chassis, with 20 per cent
more torsional rigidity, better handling,
ride comfort, low noise, low vibration
and collision safety. Side frames and
cross members are 30mm thicker. As
well as strengthening the frame bracket
structure it improves resistance to
deformities while improving fatigue
strength of the suspension and front
propshaft mounts, all leading to better
handling off-road. Toyotas Pitch and
Bounce Control System automatically
adjusts engine torque in response to

TECH SPEC:
TOYOTA HILUX
Price: 19,177-29,435 plus VAT
Models: Available in Single (Active spec, manual)
Extra (Active, manual), Double Cab (Active, manual)
Icon (manual/auto), Invincible (man/auto) Invincible X,
(manual/auto)
Engine: 2393cc D-4D four-cylinder turbo diesel
Transmission: Six-speed manual/auto
Max power: 148bhp@3400rpm
Max torque: 295lb ft@1600-2000rpm
Economy: 36.2-41.5mpg
CO2: 204-178g/km
blessing. During the 26km course the 295lb ft and you have a 24 per cent
manual guys would be working that higher sixth gear, which improves
Towing: 3200kg (from July) 3500kg (late 2016)
gearbox; we had a much more relaxed low-speed torque delivery and improves Tyres: 225/70R17, 265/65R17, 265/65R18
experience. fuel economy at higher speed. We Wheels: Alloy17/18in
The rst section of the route was a certainly noticed that low-speed torque
twisting, narrow track which required during the gravel driving, leaving it in
precise wheel placement to avoid sharp fth when we had to slow for the dust,
rocks and stones, not to mention those and there was no protest from the
vicious, body-scraping acacia bushes 2.4-litre unit.
with their menacing white thorns On the tarmac in Windhoek, the
looming everywhere. driver accidentally shifted the lever into
We trundled through slowly but surely manual fourth and didnt notice until I,
with the auto box smoothly negotiating as passenger, spotted it. That shows
up and down the relatively benign how tall the gearbox is. There is also a
humps and bumps with little revving or Drive Mode switch to choose between
protest. We climbed steadily to a Eco and Power settings. Eco reduces
plateau and then the fun really started. power consumption, related to
We were greeted with magnicent acceleration, heating and cooling,
vistas as the steep, twisting, rocky and improving economy, while Power offers
narrow ascents and descents tested
the excellent articulation and the
2.4-litres power, torque and excellent
engine braking. This time we had the
advantage of the auto box so there
was no need for rally-style gear
changes as the hills loomed. One
particularly steep and technical ascent
required us to lock the rear diff; not so
much to ensure steady progress but
just to avoid any wheel slippage that
might damage the track beneath.
It was a fantastic experience and a
highly enjoyable off-road adventure. Our
group did suffer three punctures; but
that is the nature of this terrain.
Thankfully no tyres came off their rims
as happened in the dunes the previous
day when turns were taken too sharply
and quickly; always a danger when your
tyre pressure is very low.
Those punctures slowed our progress, Above: The Hilux
so the 220km drive along the straight now has the same
and dusty C14 to the capital Windhoek electronic 4x4
needed to be at a decent pace. The dust switching that is on
and the need to take a touristy shot at the Land Cruiser.
the Tropic of Capricorn slowed us down Toyota claims the
but we arrived in the capital for rush hour Hilux now has
and our very rst drive along beautifully similarly high off-road
smooth tarmac. Progress was slow and driving abilities
methodical but the stop/start function
was a welcome feature. Above left: Lowering
On the road, the ride is smoother and the tyre pressures
more rened than the old model and before dune driving
the 2.4-litre is noticeably quieter than
the rather rasping 3.0-litre predecessor. Left: Interior is neat
The 2393cc may be 600cc smaller, but and an improvement
it delivers vastly improved torque at on the previous model

FIRST DRIVE
Toyota Hilux
a sharper response to throttle pressure.

Kickdown in the auto box isnt the
sharpest tool in the box, showing the
new Hilux hasnt quite got the more
sophisticated road manners it craves.
But the ride feels far better controlled,
particularly while cornering, than the
rather livelier predecessor. The rear leaf
springs being longer by 100mm and
mounted 50mm further apart on the
chassis, together with a thicker front
anti-roll bar, produce greater stability
- especially under loading - although we
did encounter some bucking from the
rear when driving over pot holes. As
you can imagine, there were a number
of those to negotiate on the fast, dusty
gravel tracks.
Despite the fact that the long, straight punctures to be repaired. The interior is
Namibian roads were mostly empty, much improved with a splash of metallic
and therefore not necessitating any detail on the dash that youll also nd
electronic safety features. The Hilux on the door trim, instrument binnacle,
now sports the latest in driving aids, steering wheel and gear lever bezel. Its
which include Toyota Safety Sense all very uncluttered and sleek-looking,
(standard on Invincible, Invincible X, far more SUV than pick-up truck, with
optional on Active and Icon specs) with n-type air vents and the Toyota Touch
a Pre-Collision system with Pedestrian 2 seven inch touch-screen. Outside the
Detection function, Lane Departure designers have created a sleeker,
Alert and Road Sign Assist. Its streamlined look, even though all
enhanced road-going characteristics dimensions are bigger and the
mean the modern pick-up truck has trademark clamshell bonnet wraps over
fully evolved into a road-savvy SUV. the wheelarches to give a solid road
We also appreciated the new presence.
air-conditioning system in the 35 And then we come to towing
degree-plus heat which can generate capacity, leaving the best news until
cooler air when the engine is idling last. Now here we truly require a fanfare
perfect for when we were hanging as, in the past, we have always
around waiting for our colleagues bemoaned the Hiluxs rather woeful
offering compared to its rivals. Well, as

the trumpets blast their last chord, we
can announce that the new Hilux will
tow the magic 3500 tonnes. Hurrah and
huzzah for that. There is a footnote,
however: the rst vehicles to enter the
UK in July are only rated to 3200
tonnes, as homologation wasnt sorted
in time for this launch. So if you want
the big 3.5t lugging ability, wait until the
end of the year to get that model.
Check with your local dealer.
The new Hilux might not be quite
enough to get the model back to the
Dust, sand and more dizzy heights of being the worlds
dust! The new Toyota leading pick-up truck, as rivals have
Hilux took the rough also improved signicantly, but this new
gravel roads and model is an excellent, good-looking
massive sand dunes upgrade. Trouble is, we just want to
in its stride. Urban drive it in the desert dunes and through
construction sites in steep and glorious mountain passes all
the UK should be no the time to show off its real prowess
problem... this is where it truly rocks.

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PETERBOROUGH: Manor Farm, Ailsworth, Peterborough PE5 7DL MAIDENHEAD: Stafferton Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1AY
JEEP
75TH ANNIVERSARY
1941 - 2016
SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A LEGENDARY MARQUE

SPONSORED BY

CONTENTS
Time to celebrate a legend. From a vehicle built at a period of global conflict,
to a model range built to satisfy the increasingly complex demands of a
demanding motoring public. We celebrate 75 years. Happy Anniversary, Jeep!
JEEP BUYING GUIDE STORM JEEPS

32 58
MY FAVOURITE JEEP No.1 HISTORIC LANDMARKS
40 62
NENE OVERLAND JEEPS MILITARY JEEPS
44 66
JEEP CONCEPT VEHICLES MY FAVOURITE JEEP No.3
50 70
WRANGLER RUBICON TECHNICAL ADVICE
52 72
MY FAVOURITE JEEP No.2 JEEP EXPERT DIRECTORY
56 80
SPONSORED BY

THE REAL THING
Like Coca Cola, the Jeep is all-American, has taken some stick for being too
high-calorie but is reinventing itself as environmentally friendly. Modern Jeeps are
a far cry from the rough and ready original, but they all remain true to their off-
road origins. Our guide will help identify the right Jeep for you
Words: Bob Cooke
C
ruising the highway in the air mass-produced all-steel station wagon which, It took a while for the Jeep name to appear in
conditioned, leather-upholstered if you can excuse the fact that it was two- the UK as an ofcial import, and it had a hard
comfort of a Grand Cherokee with wheel drive, could truly claim to be the worlds time making headway against the more
its lane-departure warning, adaptive first Sports Utility Vehicle. established Land Rover, Toyota and Mitsubishi
cruise control, blind spot alert and traffic sign The original Jeep could never have survived rivals. Nevertheless, the modern Cherokee and
recognition keeping you safely on track is a as a mainstream model, but through Grand Cherokee are gradually gaining popularity
long, long way from the kind of vehicle the successive ownerships of the company, by as users recognise that they offer excellent
Jeeps originators had in mind. The brief had Kaiser, AMC, Chrysler and now Fiat, the value in the increasingly competitive mid-range
been to create a truck that weighed less than rough-and-ready truck developed through the and luxury SUV segment, with the added
600kg yet had a quarter-tonne payload. A Civilian Jeep CJ2 to CJ7 guises, turning advantage that, perhaps more than any rival
seemingly impossible task at the time, but eventually into the Wrangler, which retains all manufacturer, theyve retained excellent off-road
thanks to the inspired design of Karl K. Probst the off-road agility of the original in a smart, ability. This is particularly true of the Wrangler,
for the American Bantam Car Company, with modern and in some cases impressively which may occupy something of a niche in the
little more than a few styling tweaks, the luxurious estate body. Alongside it the station marketplace but stands out proudly as the only
General Purpose War Truck was built, mainly wagon concept developed into a range of vehicle to remain true to the off-road character
by Willys Overland and Ford, to the tune of more sophisticated four-wheel drive estates, of the original. Modern Jeeps are an attractive
over half a million from 1941 to 1945. It has leading to the modern Cherokee and Grand proposition new, but the increasing popularity
become a vehicle that is recognised and Cherokee, which have all the style and over the past two decades has delivered a
revered the world over for its blend of superb capability to rival the likes of the Land Rover good selection of models to the second-hand
off-road agility and iconic styling. Willys had the Freelander and Discovery. Its interesting to marketplace, where the value, particularly of
foresight to patent the Jeep name, but even note the comment from Chrysler boss Lee nearly new examples, is signicantly enhanced.
though they tried hard to sell the war- Iacocca in 1987 when explaining why his Whether you need a luxurious executive cruiser,
specification truck as an agricultural vehicle company had chosen to acquire AMC: First, a practical and convenient family estate or a
after hostilities had ceased, it was obvious that of course, we get Jeep, which just happens to terrain-conquering off-roader, theres a
theyd have to supplement it with something be the best automotive name in the world, and competent, comfortable, well-equipped,
more refined - the first of these being the first the leader in four-wheel drive technology. legendary Jeep for you.

WRANGLER
Y J 1987 -19 96
T
his is one Jeep that can claim to be subframe, and while economies of scale suspension modications - Llama 4x4, for
the direct descendant of the original, demanded that the Wrangler should share instance, offer easy-t 2.5-inch or 4-inch lift
though in reality it has nothing in components with the Cherokee the only one kits for under 600, FTE 4x4 can supply
common with the wartime truck other worthy of a sneer was the use of rectangular Rubicon Express kits including a 4.5-inch
than having selectable four-wheel drive. The rather than the traditional round headlamps. extreme duty lift or a simpler arrangement
first-generation Wrangler from 1986 has taken Steering and brake components were shared, that sits the spring over the axle to increase
a lot of stick from enthusiasts who saw it as a as were the engines, the transmission and ground clearance by over ve inches without
posers car rather than a true off-roader, and Command Trac selectable 4WD system and the expense of new springs.
theres some justification to that view. When axles, all of which added to driving pleasure For all that the YJ Wrangler is relatively rare
AMC chose to discontinue the CJ7 it was on while retaining traditional off-road traction. Also in the UK, most examples weve seen are the
the basis of research that showed a clear worth bearing in mind is that all the Wranglers 2.5 four, though by the same token they all
change of interest on the part of owners. In body panels were galvanised or otherwise seem to have been well-cared for with no
1978 only 17 per cent of owners used CJ7 as protected against corrosion, so even older obvious signs of having been off-roaded. The
everyday transport; by 1986 this had risen to examples should still be in reasonable shape. standard vehicle came with full metal doors,
95 per cent, by which time only seven per cent The engine choice was the 120bhp 2.5-litre look out for examples with the cute half-metal
used their Jeep regularly off-road. The call, four or the 4.2-litre straight six which had no doors, a private seller may have bought them
therefore, was for a more modern, lighter more power but much more torque, therefore a aftermarket and could offer them as part of
replacement that had to be less truck-like to better - if thirstier - off-road engine. By 1991 the deal. Rarity value still counts, expect to
drive and more road-friendly with better this had changed, however, to the newer pay at least 1000 for an early example in
steering feel and roadholding. One 4.0-litre six with a lustier 175bhp, most versions reasonable condition, argue down the price if
consequence of this was a lower ride height to in the UK will have this power plant. it appears to have off-road damage, but also
improve cornering ability, even though this Transmission was either a five-sped manual or be prepared to pay more if it already has
naturally affected off-road agility. The car still three-speed automatic. well-performed modications and off-road
had to have the traditional Jeep appearance, Detracting from its ultimate off-road ability is tyres, for instance. Pay 3000 at least for one
however, so the Wrangler did have a strong the low-riding stance and the fact that the dating from around 1993 in good shape with
CJ7 look about it - mainly because the body leaf-spring suspension front and rear restricts a new MOT and the hard-top roof in place,
panels from the firewall back were pure CJ7. axle articulation. Nevertheless an older Fleet Sales of Cosby (01455 202293) were
Its also unfair to shrug the Wrangler off as a rst-generation Wrangler makes an ideal asking 5000 for a 1994 soft-top, looking in
compromise using a shortened Cherokee hard-core off-road recreational vehicle if youre pristine condition with new Fulda Trac 4x4
chassis. It has its own purpose-built steel prepared to spend a bit on the necessary tyres and a years breakdown cover.

WRANGLER
headlamp levelling and airbags for driver and
front seat passenger.
A well-used early Wrangler Sport shouldnt
cost more than 2000, add 1000 to that if its
in good shape, or look at 9000 for a
low-mileage run-out model of 2006.
The hardtop Sahara features enhanced
equipment including air conditioning, cruise
control and an uprated stereo, along with
15-inch or 16-inch alloy wheels, but neednt
cost much more than a similar-age Sport.
Expect to pay around 5000 for something
from 1998, condition possibly more important
than mileage. Most examples we saw were
being sold privately, as is often the case with
niche-market cars, dealers are only prepared
to wait for a buyer if their prot margins
good, compare the 5995 being asked
privately for a 1999 83,000 miler with tow
pack, full service history and long MOT with
TJ 1996-2006 the 8975 Different Class Cars (020 8022

6167) were asking for a black X-reg example
though it did have only 43,000 miles and a
C
hrysler took over AMC in 1987 and in difcult off-road conditions as well as taking new set of tyres.
within a few years decided the the edge off fuel consumption. Note that There were a string of special editions,
Wrangler had to be a more serious during 2005 the manual switched from a though the upgrades were usually cosmetic;
off-roader than the road-biased ve-speed to a six-speed, a better one worth looking out for is the 60th
model theyd inherited. Development started in transmission since its combined with lower Anniversary of 2001, we spotted a silver one
1990 on the replacement, which apart from axle ratios to give a lower rst gear crawling with 54,000 miles and a new MOT being
retaining the same engine and drivetrain is a speed, fourth is a smidgeon lower than third in offered privately for 7995. The Extreme
totally different design with an all-new the ve-speeder making it a better climbing Sport from 2004 on is a looker, Shirlton Car
purpose-built steel chassis frame and all-new ratio and sixth remains an overdrive for Sales of Cannock had a metallic Java one
body panels mounted on a coil-sprung economical highway cruising - its not as high with chrome bull bars and side steps and
suspension. As a nod to the concerns of as the fth-speeders top, but in consequence 17-inch twin-spoke tyres priced at 8995.
enthusiasts this generation saw a return to a holds speed better up long motorway inclines. Weve commented at length on the need to
more upright grille straddled by round Equipment in all Wranglers is somewhat give the basic Wrangler a bit of a lift to get the
headlamps. The AMC-origin 4.0-litre six basic. Interestingly some of the base Sport best out of it as an extreme off-road funster,
powered most models, with the 120bhp models will have had tinted glass and a and its as well to be aware that many owners
2.5-litre four cylinder available on entry level four-speaker stereo, some with CD player, will already have gone that route. In
versions; this was replaced during 2002 with while others made do with a simpler two- consequence it may make sense to seek out
the 2.4-litre four, as used in the Chrysler PT speaker radio. Hence its worth checking the one thats already been modied, such as the
Cruiser, upping output to a more useful specication of the ICE and also be prepared 4.0 Sport, a 2003 model with 3.5-inch
140bhp. The TJ is certainly more capable in to nd that previous owners have tted Rancho lift, one-inch body lift, 33-inch tyres
standard form than the YJ it replaced, even aftermarket systems, in which case make sure and a high-rock front bumper complete with
though concern about roadholding in the hands you have the security code or ague off the cost Tigershark 9500lb winch asking 6500 by a
of thoughtless drivers kept the ride height lower of a replacement system. All TJs have private seller in Chelmsford.
than it could have been. Axle articulation is
better while the coil springs also provide more
compliant off-road progress as well as
softening the highway ride quality. The TJ really
is the version to go for if you want a dedicated
hard-core off-roader, the short wheelbase gives
it excellent breakover performance and the fact
that rear passenger accommodation isnt good
matters little with the rear seats replaced by
camping and recovery gear. Naturally there is a
wide range of suspension and protection
upgrades available.
The 4.0-litre, in spite of its heavier
consumption, remains the engine of choice
since it has plenty of power and big torque
delivered in a delightfully laid-back manner.
Most 4.0-litre versions have automatic
transmission three speed on some early
models, so look out for one with the more
efcient four-speed - but a manual is a better
bet since this will ultimately give better control

WRANGLER
JK 2007-PRESENT
O
ur first thoughts on seeing the higher-specication Overland becoming the If youre serious about off-roading youll need
latest-generation Wrangler was top model with the 2011 upgrade, featuring to be looking for a Rubicon, since this is the
that theyd gone too far, stretching leather upholstery and satnav as standard; it's dedicated hard-core version boasting heavy-
the high-fun, iconically styled, arguable that these are strictly street cruisers, duty axles with locking differentials, electronic
seriously competent compact recreational too smart and too expensive to be trashed sway bar disconnect, lower low range gearing,
off-roader into a bulky road car that looked the off-road. Theyre few and far between sill guards and off-road tyres. Unfortunately
part from a distance but couldnt possibly be second-hand, pay around 16,000 for a youll search long and hard to nd one, since
as much fun off-road as the TJ. Weve since well-used early two-door, 24,000 for a these werent high on the distributors import list
realised that the modern Wrangler is an lower-mileage 2014 Unlimited. and were available to special order - and most
exceptionally good off-roader, and even though The Sahara is the midrange alternative, still who bought these superbly stylish, iconic
we still think of it as a typically bloated Yank well-equipped with air conditioning, parking off-road playthings have kept them. Order a
tank the wisdom of enlarging the TJ concept aids, traction control, Kenwood stereo with new one and youre looking at over 31,000 for
to provide more interior passenger and DVD player, DAB radio, Bluetooth and a two-door, nearly 33,000 for an Unlimited.
luggage space, as well as providing a much accessory functions and cruise control, look Fortunately there is a full range of aftermarket
roomier four-door long wheelbase Unlimited out for models with the 1200 optional satnav. upgrades such as suspension lifts and locking
model, shows where it matters: it took 23 This was the most popular spec so there is a differentials to allow you to tailor the car to your
years for Land Rover to build a million good selection second-hand; pay 10,000 for own requirements, so even a base Sport could
Discoverys, Jeep sold more than a quarter of a a well-used early two-door, closer to 23,000 become a thoroughly enjoyable plaything. On
million Wranglers in 2015 alone. for a low-mileage 2014 model. There are some the other hand, if you have a sound bank
The new Wrangler gained in size, stature good deals around on nearly-new and balance and desire for an instant answer to your
and road presence, but clung steadfastly to ex-demo cars, one that caught our eye was hard core off-roading aspirations, check Nene
traditional Jeep cues, such as the exposed the red 2015 but unregistered four-door with Overland for availability of their Wild Extreme
door hinges, the fold-down windscreen, 150 miles on it, going for 26,000 at Platts of modication (see page 44) on delivery mileage
removable doors, removable hardtop and, of Stoke on Trent (01782 933678). Note that cars, close on 50,000 but you get a long-travel
course, the seven-slot grille and round two-door Wranglers are rated to tow only lifted suspension and bespoke 17-inch alloys
headlamps. Apart from the sheer size, the 1500kg, where the original and TJ were rated from American Expedition Vehicles, Cooper
most signicant development was the to haul 2000kg. The four-door Wrangler Discoverer tyres, heavy duty bumpers with
installation of more efcient engines, mainly the Sahara and Overland can tow 2200kg, the spare wheel carrier, radiator protection, spot
2.8-litre turbodiesel, developing a reasonable Rubicon 2000kg. lights and electrically operated soft top.
174bhp and a hefty 295lb ft of torque at a
usefully low 2000rpm. The alternative, available
in the Rubicon, is the 3.8 V6 petrol engine, a
lively performer with 196bhp and a still useful
232lb ft of torque, though it does need to be
revved to 4000rpm to produce it. The current
range includes the newer 280bhp 3.6-litre V6,
desirable but therell be few around other than
high-cost low-mileage nearly new, but check
for high value ex-demo cars that may have
been packed with extras.
Equipment at Sport level is sparse, but does
include a stereo and electric windows. Expect
to pay at least 9000 for an early Sport up to
18,000 for a nearly new example with 20,000
miles. Demand for the Sport was low enough
for the model to be dropped, with the

CHEROKEE
XJ 1993-2001
T
he Cherokee came to Europe as part 2.5-litre turbodiesel was added to the range engaged for instance during winter when roads
of a deal between AMC and Renault, later, ready for the introduction of the heavily may have unexpected wet or icy patches.
whereby Renault would market the facelifted second-generation model for the 1997 Manuals use the Command-trac system where
Cherokee, with a Renault turbodiesel model year. While the Cherokee retains some of four-wheel drive is purely for off-road use.
engine, in Europe while AMC would sell the Jeeps primitive heritage in the beam axles, the There are still many perfectly roadworthy
Renault 9 in the States; France is still awash rear one mounted on leaf springs, there was early Cherokees around, even late examples
with Cherokees dating back to the 80s, also signicant innovation in the construction shouldnt cost more than 500, but wed
including the cute two-door version. That deal which, instead of having a bodyshell mounted suggest paying the little extra for one of the
eventually fell through, but with Chrysler at the on a separate chassis, saves weight by using a facelifted models from 1997, the drivetrain is
helm the Cherokee went from strength to oorpan reinforced by a pair of longitudinal box the same but the body is more softly styled and
strength. It may seem a dated truck by modern sections, a method since adopted by other the interior signicantly improved - check GPW
standards, but at the time it was described by mainstream manufacturers. What it means is Car Sales of Shefeld (01143 272828) in case
critics as having the best SUV shape of all that although the Cherokee doesnt have the the 2000 4.0-litre leather-upholstered special
time and was also selected in 2011 as one of ride renement and keen fuel consumption of edition Classic is still there, full service history,
the 10 cars that refused to die. Being more modern SUVs, it remains a perfectly good condition inside and out, MOT to
traditionalists ourselves, were inclined to agree civilised vehicle, well up to the demands of October, priced at 895.
that theres an almost classic appeal to its everyday use as a comfortable family estate, The later models are also tidier handlers and
simplistic, clean-cut but totally practical estate particularly in the popular Limited and Limited more rened to drive; however, if what youre
car styling that allows it to cruise the highways SE guise which includes air conditioning, after is an off-road plaything with high levels of
with more than adequate road presence. electric seat adjustment, cruise control and a on-road comfort, an early example is an
Almost classic, because the Cherokee hasnt good stereo system, most also with leather excellent choice; off-road enhancements such
and may never become one of the upholstery. These were offered with the as suspension lift kits are available and if you
ever-growing yet still very elite group of cars six-cylinder engine, the Sport was a lower-cost dont mind cutting away some of the wheelarch
that are iconically collectable; thats not to say entry-level model with the 2.5-litre engine, still the Cherokee will run 33-inch mud-terrain tyres.
that it isnt desirable as a good-value second- with an excellent equipment specication but During 1999, with an all-new Cherokee on the
hand purchase. with cloth upholstery and losing some items way, Classic and Orvis versions were offered as
The Cherokees strong point is that although such as the electric rear windows. Four-wheel run-out enticements. Both are luxuriously
its a very practical estate thats smart enough drive is selectable, though automatics use the equipped, the Orvis including a CD
to hold its own in city trafc, its also a more Selec-trac system which include a setting multichanger recognise the Orvis by the
than capable off-roader, as evidenced by the equating to permanent four-wheel drive, an ideal stylish louvres on the bonnet. Our own
increasing number of old Cherokees turning up arrangement allowing four-wheel drive to be recommendation is to go with the straight six
at pay and play outings around the country. 4.0-litre automatic, since although this is the
The Cherokee was a necessary departure least economical in terms of fuel it also tends to
from Jeeps traditionally truck-like range of be the most reliable in the long run. However,
purely functional working vehicles, a leaner, since fuel economy is more than ever a
lighter car to compete with the inux of rened consideration, its hardly surprising that 4.0-litre
competitors from the Far East. By the time it versions tend to cost less second-hand than
was ready for sale in Britain the main motive the 2.5-litre petrol (which in any case uses as
power was from the nails-hard 184bhp 4.0-litre much fuel as the 4.0-litre because it works so
straight six mated to a four-speed auto box, hard) or VM-engined turbodiesel types; if
with the 2.5-litre four being uprated to a buying one of these do ensure the car has an
reasonable but still hard-working 132bhp. A excellent service history.

CHEROKEE
all coils, so ride is reasonably rened.
All versions are well-equipped - Jeep
wanted to take on the Freelander with a
product seen as better value - so even the
entry-level Sport had air conditioning,
electric windows, CD player and alloy
wheels, while the Limited also has a trip
computer, cruise control, uprated stereo
with steering-wheel controls, and optional
full leather upholstery. The engine choice
was between a 3.7-litre petrol V6 and a
2.5-litre turbodiesel; we appreciated the
better economy of the oil burner but
considered it rough and noisy compared
with the more refined turbodiesels of its
rivals. This problem was overcome in 2003
when the 2.8 CRD was introduced,
smoother running and significantly more
powerful, particularly after 2005 when it was
uprated with a variable-vane turbocharger,
KJ 2001-2007 some also had the optional six-speed
manual. Sport versions could also be
specified with a 2.4-litre petrol engine, pay
W
e were, frankly, gobsmacked Trac, giving it an off-road edge over Freelander, no more than 1000 for an early one of
when we saw this new CR-V and X-Trail contemporaries, but lack of these, perhaps as much as 3500 for a
Cherokee. Apart from having ground clearance means it is nowhere as good low-mileage, well-kept run-out model. The
four-wheel drive, it had nothing in the rough as a Cherokee ought to be. 2.5 CRD is more common, but if you really
in common with the previous model, so much Forget the lack of heritage - there was an want diesel wed suggest a 2.8 CRD, as
so that in its home market the manufacturer attempt to reect Jeep tradition in the long as it has a good service history, pay
didnt even call it a Cherokee, they called it seven-slot grille anked by round headlamps 2000 for an early high-miler, perhaps
Liberty, presumably because theyd taken such and at-fender look to the front wheelarches, 6500 for a low-mileage run-out Limited.
a liberty with the styling. The argument was but thats about it - and there is still a lot to Our own preference, balancing higher fuel
that it was better suited to European tastes, please about this Cherokee as a well- costs against long-term reliability and lower
pandering to adventurers in the concrete equipped, distinctively-styled family estate maintenance costs, not to mention lower
jungle, with publicity majoring on features such thats going to be used mainly on tarmac purchase price, would be the 3.7 V6, a
as the single-handed seat-fold mechanism and with occasional forays into more adventurous choice example being the blue 2006 Limited
flip-up rear window access to the boot rather territory. Its a roomy ve-seater, good to with 72,000 miles priced at 3250 at New
than its off-road ability. Sure, the Cherokee has drive since its the rst Jeep to have rack and London Motors of Luton (01582 936730), it
low range gearing, automatics using the pinion steering and although only the front has full leather trim, satnav, full service history
Selec-Trac system, manuals the Command- suspension is independent, the springing is and MOT to January.

CHEROKEE
true Cherokee utility, does so in a rather bulky,
brash-fronted way thats too far from the softer
styling being adopted by all its SUV rivals. Even the
fact that it has the advanced Selec-Trac II
permanent four-wheel drive system doesnt inspire
the enthusiast in us, because its a low-rider aimed
more at highway comfort than off-road action.
In reality it wasnt only us that didnt take the
revived Cherokee to heart; even in the States,
where the car was still called Liberty, it didnt prove
a best-seller; where the original Liberty sold to the
tune of 150,000 a year, the Liberty II peaked at
75,000, regularly well outsold by its hard-core Jeep
Wrangler cousin.
It was, nevertheless, an adequately luxurious car
with comfortable seating, huge cargo area and
excellent equipment, naturally including climate
control and leather upholstery, high-end stereo and
electronic gimmicks such as the auto wipers, not to
KK 2008-2012 mention the innovative Sky Slider roof option which
effectively opens the complete top to the elements.
T
his, many of us thought, was the true late scenarios. For a start we can only assume that Eight years on and one of these at around 6000
successor to the original Cherokee. The Jeep didnt think the new Cherokee would appeal sounds like pretty good value as a distinctive and
new model was a complete reversal of to British drivers, so it was only imported in Limited very practical family estate.
concept, dropping the soft city styling of form with the 2.8 CRD engine; they may have been Thats for an early high-miler, but a well-
the previous model and reverting to the proper right, because the new model wasnt an instant hit maintained lower-mileage car is well worth the
squared-up estate styling that put true utility back and basically disappeared from showrooms during extra, like the 71,000-mile 2009 automatic with
into the frame. It should have been a hit, but 2010. Wed like to say thats a pity, but the truth is optional satnav priced at 9000 at Oldham Motors
maybe it was another one of those too much too that the chunky-looking Yank, in spite of recalling (01619 332338).
T
he rethink took a while, but with Fiats
help the new Cherokee hits the spot.
With the Wrangler effectively filling the
gap left by the original Cherokee in the
eyes of off-road enthusiasts, it was clear that
the new Cherokee had to do a better job of
appealing to road-only users. Hence the new
model is all urban on-road style with little
off-road substance. It wont appeal to traditional
enthusiasts, but it doesnt have to - what it
needs is to compete with the heady rash of
other high-style premium SUVs dominating the
fashion end of the automotive marketplace. It
seems to be doing that extremely well, at least
in the States, where its too practical
predecessor struggled to sell 70,000 a year the
new Cherokee notched up more than a quarter KL 2014-PRESENT
of a million sales in 2015 alone.
Key to its better ride quality and drivability is six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic, and all-season tyres. Bearing in mind that the
the switch to a pure monocoque design with wed tend to look at a manual if youre buying Cherokee is very much an urban off-roader, its
all-independent suspension, while most users an older car because weve yet to hear that hardly surprising that Trailhawks are rare
- horror of horrors - will opt for the front-drive early problems with the auto have been sorted. second-hand, so for the extra off-road
versions. Those who want four-wheel drive will The entry level specication is Longitude, its capability youll be looking for a new one at
nd that the standard system also follows the a high-value one with DAB radio with Bluetooth 39,000. If urban cruising is more your style
modern norm in being an auto-engaging type and voice command, six-speaker audio, dual youll nd some good nearly-new and ex-demo
dubbed Active Drive I; if youre planning to do zone climate control, cruise control, parking offers, for instance Unity of Oxford (01865
any off-roading with your new Cherokee, make sensors, stop-start, auto headlamps and screen 680515) had a summer sale event that included
sure you have the Active Drive II, available on wipers, power tailgate and 17-inch alloys; the a crystal black 2.2 Multijet (200) Limited
the Limited as a 1200 option, which does at Longitude + adds satnav and a nine-speaker automatic with just 500 miles with the added
least have low range; this system, including a Alpine audio system. technology pack and full panoramic roof (a
lock function, is standard on the Trailhawk, The Limited has leather upholstery, 18-inch 1200 extra) for 33,000, at least 4000 off the
which also has more ground clearance and alloys, auto levelling for the bi-xenon new list price, while Chris Variava of Nottingham
some underbody protection. headlamps, keyless entry, rear view camera and (01158 553040) had a Night Eagle special
First models had the 2.0-litre petrol engine, a a wireless phone-charging pad. edition, list price 37,495, on offer at 34,995 if
2.2-litre turbodiesel came later, the Trailhawk The Trailhawks off-road enhancements taken on their PCP deal including a 2500
has a 3.2-litre petrol V6. Transmission is a include hill descent control, selec-speed control deposit contribution.

GRAND CHEROKEE
T
he Grand Cherokee has been
described as the car that saved
Chrysler, by giving it a serious
competitor in the growing market
for higher-specification SUVs. Though
based on a concept originated by AMC
the design was expanded and refined by
Chryslers own stylists and was launched
as a competitor to the highly popular
Ford Explorer. The Grand Cherokee won
instant praise for its higher levels of
refinement and road behaviour, mainly
because it used a lighter but also more
rigid bodyshell with a welded-in chassis
frame and all-coils suspension, while the
pick-up based Explorer retained leaf
springs at the rear. Whats good about
this first generation Grand Cherokee is
that theyre cheap enough to be used as
dedicated off-road fun cars because ZJ 1993-1998
theyre impressively good off-road, and
its easy to give them a little suspension choice. Conversely for anyone more drives through the simpler Command-
lift; you shouldnt have to pay more than interested in power than consumption Trac system, which doesnt allow
500 for an older one with high mileage the 245bhp 5.9 Limited, with the four-wheel drive on firm surfaces.
but still in reasonable condition, though it Magnum V8 as used previously in the The Laredo was effectively the
may be worth stretching to 1500 for a Dodge Ram and claiming to be the entry-level model for the UK, featuring
well-maintained Limited with under worlds fastest sport utility vehicle and electric windows, central locking, cruise
100,000 miles as long as it comes with a equipped to higher levels of luxury, made control and alloy wheels, though the
new MOT. Most older examples will be an appearance as a run-out special for Limited ultimately proved more popular
powered by the tried and trusted 4.0-litre 1998, though they were left-hand drive, as a good-value luxury version with
AMC straight six, developing 174bhp, not many were sold and theyre very rare leather upholstery, heated electrically
though the optional 5.2-litre V8 is a rare second-hand. adjustable front seats, driver information
pleasure worth looking out for. In 1995 While the turbodiesel has a five-speed centre, climate control and a high-end
the 2.5-litre VM turbodiesel was installed manual transmission, the others have a stereo. The one to look out for if you
as an option in the Laredo to suit four-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive want a neo-classic estate rather than a
European requirements for better is via the Quadra-Trac mechanism with mudplugger is the Orvis, also produced
economy, these did have a reputation for the automatic transmission, a useful as a run-out attraction during 1998, but
blowing head gaskets but if you find one all-mode system since it is selectable but it gets an enhanced 10-speaker sound
still up and running and are prepared to has a setting giving permanent four- system along with the sporty mesh grille
treat it gently it remains the sensible wheel drive in high range. The manual and louvred bonnets.

GRAND CHEROKEE
WJ 1998-2004 WK 2005-2010
T F
he second generation Grand Cherokee installation of a new four-speed automatic or 2005 the Grand presented
was a significant improvement over its transmission, plus an enhanced transfer gearbox a bold new frontal
predecessor. The styling was similar and the availability on higher-specication versions appearance, with the
but smoother and more aerodynamic, of the clever Quadra Drive system, which not-quite-rectangular
the leather-upholstered interior was just as automatically locks individual axle differentials to headlamps of the earlier model replaced
opulently equipped but mechanical refinement ensure that the car retains traction even if only a by pairs of halogen lamps butting up
and road behaviour were markedly better, a single wheel has grip. The result is a car that has into the bonnet line, straddling a bold
consequence of much attention to suspension plenty of urban style and presence, yet is also an seven-slot grill and underlined by a
bushings and settings. The most notable extremely competent off-road action machine, heavy, almost aggressively-thrusting
improvement, however, was the introduction of which must make an early second-generation bumper. Otherwise the body lines
an all-new, powerful and efficient engine that at a Grand Cherokee, with its leather upholstery, air seemed unchanged, although closer
stroke made the big Jeep a more effective rival to conditioning, superb stereo systems and all the inspection revealed that the windscreen
the all-conquering Range Rover. The engine was other luxuries youd expect to nd in a high-end has a more aerodynamic rake, the
the 4.7-litre V8, matching the power of the highway cruiser, a superb-value all-rounder that doors are bigger and squarer, theres a
Range Rovers 4.6-litre V8 but delivering quicker shouldnt cost more than a grand. higher belt line and the rear has bigger
acceleration and higher top speed, not to Most older models will have done well over lamp clusters and a heavier rear
mention better fuel consumption, because of 100,000 miles, a low-miler in top condition might bumper and tailgate design. The interior
being some 250kg lighter than its British rival. be worth more, one interesting example being the was also restyled, not necessarily for
A superb engine, but returning around 18mpg it 2002 4.7 V8 Limited with a gas conversion, 89,000 the better where the dashboard is
isnt the most obvious choice on a car thats going miles with one lady owner, a long MOT and priced concerned, since it has a particularly
to do a high mileage as an everyday family estate. at 1890 at Hendon Motors (020 8902 2554). chunky look, a rather startling exception
The venerable old 4.0-litre straight-six was the For 2004 entry-level Sport and upgraded to the smoother and more organic
mainstream petrol engine, upgraded for the new Overland versions were introduced; the Sport has shapes favoured by most European and
generation to develop 195bhp, but being an older cloth upholstery and a simpler air conditioning Asian manufacturers. Worthy features in
and inherently less efcient design it burns more system, but it retains the electric seats, electric the new model include a 60-40 split for
fuel than the V8. That doesnt make it one to avoid windows and remote locking. The Overland was a the rear seat fold and a reversible
- though the oldest and longest-established engine range-topper, the enhanced specication including boot-floor storage tray, not to mention
in the range it trades mild performance and thirst a CD autochanger and an electric sunroof. the concert-quality sound system in top
against the kind of steadfast reliability that gets it a One key special to look out for would be the models linked via a colour display to the
bulletproof accolade from enthusiasts. When the 60th Anniversary edition, introduced in July 2001 sat nav.
turbodiesel alternative arrived it wasnt an exciting for a limited period, which was based on the 4.7 The key mechanical development for
one, the 3.1-litre VM, which works hard in this V8 Limited but adding the electric sunroof, a CD this generation was the adoption of
heavy car and in consequence isnt particularly autochanger and metallic paint. independent front suspension, and for
economical, and its also woefully outdated in terms With the end of the run approaching, September Europe the other signicant
of renement. However, with Mercedes at that time 2004 saw three new top-specication variants on improvement was the introduction of
in control of the Chrysler and Jeep business it the scene, the Limited XS with 4.7 V8 or 2.7 CRD the 3.0-litre V6 CRD turbodiesel, as
wasnt long before the far smoother, more efcient engine, the Platinum with the 2.7 CRD and the HO used in the Mercedes M-Class,
and more powerful Mercedes 2.7 CRD as had Platinum with the 4.7 V8. These all have satnav, as replacing the 2.7-litre unit in the
already been installed in the Mercedes M-Class well as the electric sunroof, plus heated door previous generation. The engine is a
found its way under the Grand Cherokees eager mirrors and parking sensors, we only spotted one modern all-alloy quad-cam design with
bonnet, and this is naturally the engine of choice as Limited XS 2.7 CRD for sale, a one-owner car with common rail injection, producing
it has almost as much top-end power as the new MOT, at Lymedale Motors of Newcastle under 218bhp, perhaps more importantly for
4.0-litre petrol but much more torque over a good Lyme (01782 618333), at 3290, a bit expensive heavy towing or off-road duties the
range, making for easy on-road cruising and strong for a car with 175,000 miles but is in excellent peak torque is developed at a lowly
off-road versatility. condition and, if nothing else, the high mileage is a 1600rpm. From the start the new model
Along with the adoption of new engines was the worthy reection on the reliability of the engine. could also be specied with the

locked until the car is well past
the situation that called for them,
whereas the gerotor type would
keep switching in and out in
response to wheelspin.
The mainstream specication
level for the Grand Cherokee is
the Limited, and these are most
common second-hand. There is
also a standard trim version, but
theyre rare and not particularly
cheap, although they have cloth
upholstery they do have electric
seat adjustment, air conditioning,
electric windows, remote central
locking and 17-inch alloy wheels,
with driver, passenger and front
side airbags, tyre pressure
monitors and the electronic WK2 2011-PRESENT
stability programme, as well as
A
stunning 325bhp 5.7-litre the off-road aids of hill descent ll change, and whos sunroof and satnav. Pay from
Hemi V8 engine, absolutely control and hill start assist. to say its for the 13,000 for an early Limited
the right choice for anyone No matter if you cant nd one, better? Certainly the with over 100,000 miles, as
wanting to enjoy the the Limited is arguably a much all-new Grand for much as 20,000 for a
all-American side of the cars better value purchase, since it 2011 was more competitive in low-mileage Overland.
character. All those smokin has a higher equipment spec the modern luxury SUV sector Its almost worth ignoring
cubic inches ought to including leather upholstery and for seemingly giving up its these earlier examples,
translate into heady fuel climate control. Satnav was a serious off-road intent in favour because the facelift for 2013
consumption, but in fact the 1550 option. There is also a of soft lines, soft ride and not only gives a less brash
engine is relatively economical huge range of second-hand enhanced electronic gadgetry. frontal appearance but includes
since it switches out four of its examples available, pay from The most significant change a switch to an eight-speed
cylinders to use less fuel when 3000 for a high-mileage early was a switch to all-independent automatic, along with bi-xenon
its not being hammered to example, more like 6000 for suspension, bolstered by an headlamps and improved
outpace a hot hatch, and anything decent with less than uprated version of the 3.0 CRD interior trim, plus a 19-speaker
uses little more fuel than the 100,000 miles, though Town turbodiesel developing a 825Watt Harman Kardon
old faithful 4.0-litre six - Autos of Bedford (10234 671993) smooth 237bhp driving through surround sound audio system
expect 18mpg if you have a were asking a very reasonable a five-speed automatic and in the range-topping Summit.
sensibly light right foot. 3495 for a 97,000-mile 2005 capable of returning over Limited means a high
The 4.7-litre V8 made a 4.7 Limited in pristine condition 30mpg. The catch-up to match specication but the Limited
brief appearance, but with and with a years MOT. other modern SUVs wasnt only Plus is better value, Direct Cars
signicantly heavier If youre prepared to think big, reflected in the much more of Shefeld (01142 994676)
consumption than the we can conrm that the 5.7 comfortable and softly styled were asking a cool 25,000 for
turbodiesel it did not prove Hemi is a delight to drive. Hows interior and safe-driving a 27,000-mile 2014 example
popular, and were dropped this for a stonking luxurious technology like adaptive cruise with satnav, Uconnect and DAB
after a year - we have to say, tarmac smoker for little more controls, but revealed that the radio. Demand was always high
though, that its a beautiful than pocket money - Hoxton sleek urban styling hasnt totally for the top-specication
engine to drive so if you dont Autos of Aylesbury (01844 shrugged off off-road ability. versions, so the current range
do a lot of mileage its not a 340392) had a silver 2006 Hemi Electronic aids include a is restricted to the Overland
bad alternative to a Hemi, with a full service history and five-mode Selec-Terrain system and the Summit. Look out for
thats if you cant nd or afford long MOT, only 89,000 miles that emulates that of the Land excellent discounts on nearly
one. All versions have priced at just 7500. Rover Discovery 4, while the new cars; for instance Horsham
ve-speed automatic Common sense dictates a 3.0 enhanced Quadra-Trac II Car Centre (01403 272747)
transmissions and low range. CRD, expect to pay around four-wheel drive system has were asking a mere 35,995 for
For 2005 the Grand also 9000 for a low-mileage run-out traction and hill descent a new Overland with 100 miles
switched from the Quadra Limited in top condition, 13,000 controls and hill start assist, showing, including sunroof and
Drive 4WD system to Quadra for a similar age pristine with the air suspension option air suspension, a signicant
Drive II, the main difference Overland; a top-spec Overland adding 105mm to the ground drop from the new list price of
being that the limited slip Tech caught our eye at Steel City clearance when its needed. 48,000. Motorvogue of
differentials on the front and of Shefeld (01142 724046), Entry-level Laredo spec is Bedford (01234 584615 ) put a
rear axles are electronically equipment including reversing impressive, including climate 41,995 price tag on their
operated rather than by the oil camera, privacy glass, sunroof, control, cruise control and ex-demo 2016 Summit with
pressure used to lock the Boston premium audio media Bluetooth integration, the just 4500 clocked, some
gerotor-type diffs on the connect with satnav and hard Limited adds leather 10,000 under the new list
previous model. The drive music system, full service upholstery, electric windows price, and that includes a
advantage being that the history and a new MOT, priced at and mirrors and parking rear-seat DVD and Blue-ray
electronics can keep the diffs just 11,485. sensor, the Overland adds entertainment system.

MY FAVOURITE JEEP N O .1 BOB COOKE
I
hadnt planned on buying a almost because with its leaf-sprung chassis rails under the smoother and the interior much
Cherokee, it happened by rear suspension the ride renement transmission, to hold the gearbox more appealing, and the centre
accident. When the gleaming wasnt perfect, particularly after Id in place; that had taken the knock console actually includes a couple
black 1995 4.0-litre Limited given it a two-inch suspension lift and the transmission had shifted of cupholders. So, when one made
SE appeared on the floor at the with rmer sports dampers. an inch or so upwards, but apart an unexpected appearance on the
auction house and bidding started There was a reason why I from a little vibration everything just auction oor, I couldnt resist it. I
at a paltry 100, I just couldnt decided to give it the little lift. carried on working. Back home, I paid a stupidly high 1200 for it,
resist, and the hammer went down Although the truck had stopped at bought a replacement but I had to have it; I sold the older
in my favour at 300. Just a couple nothing else throughout the event, crossmember from a scrap yard, Cherokee for 150, which made it
of months later I drove the there was one massive slab of rock replaced the bent one and not only the most enjoyable
Cherokee, bog standard apart from crossing the track near the top of everything went quiet again. off-roader Id driven but also the
some mud terrain tyres, to one steep climb. Suffering a Ferrying family and friends around most cost-effective.
southern France and tackled the momentary a lapse of town continued to draw The 1998 Cherokee was almost
legendary rock-crawling, river- concentration, I simply comments like, this is as good; we did the Mille Rivieres
raiding event called Mille Rivieres, followed the a very rened car, again in it, as well as several other
thinking that if I wrecked it, then it Wrangler in front which I put down demanding French events, but I
wouldnt be a great financial loss. as it drove up to the lazy, couldnt help wondering if the
Far from wrecking it, the and over the smooth added renement hadnt detracted
Cherokee performed so well that it rock; there was performance from its off-road spirit. Id have
earned me the nickname Sideshow an almighty from the been happy to replace it with
Bob on account of the way it just bang and the 4.0-litre straight another 95 model, but the car that
went wherever I pointed it and Cherokee six. Yes, of suddenly appeared on the auction
managed to clear obstacles that had stopped dead, course it was oor was a 4.7-litre Grand
seen highly modied Land Rovers rocking thirsty, I reckoned Cherokee with Quadra Drive, tow
and Wranglers resorting to winch precariously on the on 20mpg if I drove bar and BFG All Terrains. Need I
assistance. Of course I like to think rock with a steep drop it very carefully, but I say more? Cost me 1200, but I
my own skill had something to do to the right down into the was well prepared to put up got 300 back for the Cherokee so
with it, but having driven just about valley hundreds of metres below. with that in return for the strong I didnt mind. The Grand Cherokee
every kind of off-road car over the The Wranglers had been running and easy low-rev torque courtesy is great, I love it for the sound and
previous 40 years I just couldnt 33-inch tyres, those on the of the long-stroke design. power of the engine, its no thirstier
believe how well this truck was Cherokee measured a tad over 27 The only reason I eventually than the 4.0-litre Cherokee, just as
coping in truly difcult conditions inches; had I been concentrating decided to sell the Cherokee was practical with its massive load
- considering that, with its leather Id have taken the rock at a more because every time I took it out I space and its even better off-road.
upholstery, air conditioning, suitable angle. remembered how much Id enjoyed The only trouble is, its just too
electrically adjustable seats and The Cherokee had to be driving the updated model for 1997 good to wreck - so every time I go
excellent stereo system it also winched off the rock, but it carried for the road test that appeared in off-roading I nd myself missing the
served perfectly well as an almost on as if nothing had happened; the July issue of that year. The raw and primitive spirit of my rst,
luxurious suburban estate. I say theres a crossmember linking the bodyshell is lighter, tauter and and favourite, Cherokee. BC

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The O riginal
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PETERBOROUGH: 01733 380687 MAIDENHEAD: 01628 671250

www.neneoverland.co.uk service@neneoverland.co.uk
01775 761 222
75
Years Of Jeep
A weekend of Jeep Fun.

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary Year of the Jeep.
Join Jeep Owners Club for our biggest UK event of the year, Jeep Owners of all types
wellcome, bring your family and friends too ! The 60 acre off road course will have routes
su
uitable for all types of Jeeps, from standard non modified showroom versions up to
he
eavily modified. Professional 4x4 instruction available to learn about driving off road for
begginners and veteran drivers.
Summer Camp 22nd - 24th July 2016
4x4 Driver Instruction

4x4 Pay & Play
Show & Shine
Live Entertainment
Weekend Camping
Trade Stands
BBQ
S
ince Fiat acquired Chrysler,
the company has invested
heavily in the Jeep brand and
has been heavily marketing
the model range, resulting in an almost
300 per cent increase in sales in the UK,
and a very pronounced spring in its step.
Now the Jeep Wrangler is far from
being a new truck to the British market.
Theyve been here since the end of
WWII but what is new after years, nay
decades, of neglect from Jeep HQ is
the desire to actually make buying a
Wrangler an easy prospect.
Not so long ago youd be hard-
pushed to even see a new Wrangler in
WHERE
a Jeep franchise showroom, they were
far too interested in trying to sell
Cherokees and other variants. But
thats all changed. Today there is a
much stronger emphasis on the
Wrangler and its baby brother, the
Renegade. As a result, they are ying
THE
off the forecourts.
So, youre in the market for a capable
off-roader, it must double up as an
every day runabout, you want
something new and you want it at a
reasonable cost. Oh and you want to
be able to ddle with it and add a few
REALLY
nifty mods to make it truly yours and
not just a clone. If thats what you are
after, theres actually not that much to
choose from! The Land Rover Defender
is no longer available, so now even tatty
three and four-year old trucks are
attracting hefty premiums. Double cab
pick-ups are available from most major
manufacturers but nding aftermarket
kit is nigh on impossible.
The JK is the latest incarnation of the
Wrangler lineage. Still built the other
side of the Atlantic but with more than a
ourish or two from the new Italian
owners, not least the 2.8CRD engine
supplied by VM Motori (another Italian
rm) that can easily propel you along
nicely with manual or auto boxes while
supping fuel at around 30mpg a
Defender-shaming statistic! Or if you
really must have unleaded in your tank
ARE
supplying a V-shaped engine, then the
3.6-litre V6 will put a real smile on your
face. But you probably know all this
anyway, any 4x4 enthusiast should be
up to speed on the latest Jeep models.
So youve decided to buy, what next?
No self respecting Wrangler owner
ever leaves their vehicle unmolested.
One of the greatest features of this
Jeep is that it is just so modiable.
There is no shortage of aftermarket
With a deserved reputation for parts, accessories and modications
available. Almost every component
Land Rover conversions, we took a could be replaced with an improved or
trip to the wilds of Peterborough modied equivalent from any number of
specialist Jeep retailers. But although
to see what Nene Overland has to thats all available in the States
the independent support in
offer Jeep Wrangler owners the UK has been a bit thin on
the ground and fairly sporadic

in nature. Companies have come and Smith, noticed that just as everyone met with the guys from American
gone over the years, most suffering was focussed on complaining about Expedition Vehicles (AEV). A
from the fact that the very limited Land Rover HQs decision, Fiat had subsequent trip to MOAB in a eet of
number of Wrangler owners cannot bought Chrysler and started to ramp up AEV equipped Wranglers sealed the
support the mass importation of kit and the marketing and production for the deal and Nene Overland became the The important point
parts across the Atlantic to make the Jeep brand. Acting quickly to see if this sole UK distributor for the AEV brand. about Nene's AEV
retail price worth the hassle. opportunity had the potential to open AEV has been around for many years option is that they can
Jeep fanatics have been buying up an entirely new avenue for the constantly developing, testing and be done to enhance
parts direct from the US for years and Peterborough-based business. This creating the very best trail-rated the Wrangler's
clubs like the Jeep Owners Club and resulted in a trip to the US and the accessories and parts you could already very high
Jeepey.com really help to access the legendary SEMA Show, where Andrew possibly need for a Jeep. Even Jeep off-road abilities
huge array of potential mods for their
trucks. However, this often means
clubbing together with other members,
having to wait until enough people
want the same parts to warrant placing
a bulk order, or just biting the bullet and
paying the eye-watering shipping costs
and import duties to get the bits you
want. And, then theres little aftermarket
support. Try talking to a US supplier
about EU regulations regarding your
consumer rights, itll just give them a
chuckle and something else to talk
about around the campre on their next
trail ride Crazy Limeys!
However all that has changed WATCHING THE COMMERCIALS
recently and we might just have to It is no surprise that the appeal of the Defender like these as commercial vehicles. For company
thank Land Rover for it! was its exibility. It could be a farm truck, family drivers or owner-operators they are a very tax
Seeing that the closing of the runabout, van, pick-up or street cruiser. The and VAT efcient way to have a van for business
Defender production line could have a Wrangler is more than able to adequately ll use but which looks like a normal car and
massive effect on business, Nene these shoes now that Nene Overland can offer comes with all the comfort and renements
Overland, started to explore other commercial variants of the Wrangler. youd expect from a premium SUV, with towing
avenues to satisfy the demands of the They have been building commercial capabilities aplenty.
4x4 enthusiast. Although there will Discoverys, Range Rovers and other makes like For those wanting a pick-up in the US you
always be a ready supply of Defenders Volvo and VW for a while but have now been can order the AEV Brute. A modied Wrangler
requiring maintenance, modication and able to roll that programme out to the entire with lengthened chassis giving a 139in
servicing, the end of production Jeep range. So you could order a basic wheelbase. Unfortunately the tightened EU
signalled a time when even this would two-door Wrangler as a commercial van (with rules pertaining to chassis modication rule out
start to fade away. no rear seats and a load guard in place) right up the prospect of these coming to the UK, but
Nene proprietor, Andrew Harrison- to the turbocharged 6.4-litre V8 Grand Nene Overland is said to be currently
Cherokee SRT. Yes, people do order vehicles working on an EU compliant equivalent.

GET YOUR TOP OFF
One of the plus points with the The Mytop hood is a permanent t for the
Wrangler is its real exibility, you can Wrangler and all it takes to open up the roof
have a hard-top, soft-top or no top, all on is unclip two brackets over the windscreen
the same day! The Wrangler comes as and press the dash-mounted button.
standard in hard-top form but the panels are Seconds later youre either getting sunburnt
easily removed to give you clear sky or wet. In the winter months and the
motoring at its best. Nene Overland also offer extended autumn and cool-spring weeks the
the option of tting a soft-top hood and even MyTop hood serves just as well as the regular
an electrically operated hood that can open hard-top giving very good protection from the
and close in mere seconds very handy elements, and it looks like a world away from
considering the weather patterns we have to the old style soft tops which were little more
endure. than a tarp, trimmed to t and tied on!
truck from a franchised dealer, but

which will stand out from the crowd
from day one.
Nene is able to supply any late-model
Wrangler to order, in any colour,
wheelbase, engine and gearbox
conguration and trim level, then it adds
the Wild packs according to customer
requirements. As a starting point youll
get custom decals, 20-inch alloys with Below: The Wild
bigger, better rubber, LED headlamps, option from Nene
HQ buys stuff from them! colour coded bumpers, wheel arches Overland can be
Nene Overland set about creating a and spare wheel cover, satin black grille exactly that - wild!
new identity for the Jeeps to run and other accents and graduated
alongside the already world-renowned privacy glass.
Defender Icon brand; thus the Wild The next stage is to start ticking off
Jeep was born. items from the AEV catalogue. Most
Utilising the impressive inventory from customers seem to go for at least a
AEV, alongside Nenes already 2.5in suspension lift (although you can
capacious stock list from the likes of go to 4.5in and beyond). An engine
Lazer Lamps, Hannibal Safari remap, performance exhaust,
Equipment and JW Speaker, a range of soundproong and, if you want to go
Wild modication packages was totally crazy, Nene can t a
developed to enhance the Wrangler supercharger or even drop in a 6.4-litre
range and give potential customers the Hemi V8! Utilising the companys many
opportunity to order and drive away a years of experience with Defender Icon,
Wild Jeep that wont cost that much they just seem to know what customers
more than what youd pay for a stock want and can deliver it.
GO WILD!
CONTACT
DETAILS
NENE OVERLAND
Web: www.neneoverland.co.uk
Email: info@neneoverland.co.uk
AMERICAN EXPEDITION VEHICLES

Web: www.neneoverland.co.uk

NENE OVERLAND
WILD JEEP SRT & DRT Wild RENEGADE EXTREME Wrangler
Available as standard, Wild Performance 2.0 Multijet Trailhawk, +2 Suspension, 4.0 V8, 35 Super Swampers, ARB Lockers
Tuned or Commercial Variants Larger Tyres and Underbody Protection Front and Rear, +4 Suspension Lift
Grand Cherokee SRT 6.4 V8 HEMI

700bhp Supercharger option
Wild Aero Body Kit and Bonnet
22 Forged Alloys
WILD JEEP SRT
Prices correct at time of sending advert to print. All prices include VAT @ 20% E&OE some variation in prices may occur due to exchange rate fluctuations
2,686 264 1,470
AEV JK DualSport RS
4.5" 4-door suspension kit AEV JK Dana 44 Differenttiall Cover AEV JK Premium Front Bumper
295 1,024 879
AEV JK Heat Reduction Bonnet

AEV Pintler Alloy Wheels supplied black or body colour AEV Rear Bumpper and Tyyre Carrier
www.neneoverland.co.uk Tel: 01733 380687 info@neneoverland.co.uk
FOR JEEP!
Wild Wrangler Wild Wrangler Wild Wrangler
2.8 TDi Auto DUNE Edition, 33 Cooper 2.8 TDi Auto SAHARA, Brilliant Black 3.6 V6 Auto Wild AEV RUBICON, 17 Rims,
STT MTs, LED headlights, Wild AEV Spec. Exterior, 5-Spoke Alloys, Full Wild Spec. 33 Cooper STT MTs, +2.5 Suspension
FULLY KITTED FOR OVERLANDING

AEV Suspension Lift and Alloys
AEV Winch Bumper and Winch
Hannibal Impi Roof Tent
WRANGLER
POA 434 1,280
AEV JK DualSport XT
The Ultimate 6.4L V8 HEMI upgrade! AEV Rear Tyyre Carrier Fuel Caddyy 2.5" 4-door suspension kit
293 453 402
AEV Hi-Lift Jack & Pull-Pal Mount AEV JK Snorkel AEV JK Corner Guards 4-Door
We have Jeeps on display at both PETERBOROUGH and MAIDENHEAD branches
FUTURE
R
egular readers will know that we Kaiser M715. Based on the Wrangler Unlimited chopped by some 12 inches, yet still has room
particularly enjoy Jeeps annual it uses big 20 inch beadlock wheels, fitted with for the 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engine and
unveiling of the companys concept 40inch NDT military tyres. Many of the parts ve-speed gearbox. Cute, eh?
vehicles and 2016 didnt disappoint. come from Jeep Performance Parts, including And to nish off, we had to look forward and
These concepts are fully working offerings, Dana 60 front and rear axles and four inch lift show a concept for Jeeps latest Renegade.
looking close to production possibilities in many kit. Its painted Tactical Green - just had to be! The Jeep Comanche (right) has Beige Against
cases, and designed and built where possible Any styling cues for the forthcoming Wrangler The Machine paintwork, which besides being a
using Mopar spares and accessories. Given that pick-up, we wonder? humorous nod towards a California rock band,
2016 is the 75th Anniversary you would expect Proving small Jeeps can be as good as the takes styling clues from the past, while looking
something special and we just love the Jeep bigger options, we also have the Jeep Shortcut to the future. Long may the company continue
Crew Chief 715 (main image). Its a salute to (far right). The shortened body is said to invoke with these exciting concepts: heres looking to
Jeeps military service vehicles, in particular the the spirit of 1950s Americana. Its been production possibilities NF

PERFECT

RUBI,
RUBI,RUBI
Back in March 2013, we featured a unique Jeep JK Wrangler Rubicon
that Stewart Harding had built by special order at the US plant in
Toledo. That was impressive enough, but he has since geared up a
notch with a brand new Rubicon thats much bigger and even better
Words and photography: Hils Everitt

S
tewart Hardings first Rubicon
was a Special Order spec in
bright Dozer Orange. At the
time of our feature (March
2013) Stewart had more plans for its
modification. He subsequently fitted
33in tyres, a 2.5in lift and various other
things, but when last year a fellow Jeep
Owners Club member, Bob Seeborn,
wanted to buy it Stewart thought:
Hmmmm... I could go up a gear and
get another one. This time he fancied
the Sunset Orange bodywork and
wanted to build an even more unique,
impressive Rubicon.
So back he went to Jeep UK and
asked the question whether he could
order a Rubicon from the States to his
spec. Jeep was very accommodating
as wed done it before, smiles
Stewart. So it was rather tting that he
contacted us to say are you interested
in my latest Rubicon? particularly as
we are celebrating Jeeps 75th
Anniversary year.
As in late 2012, we met at Ian
Wrights Driving Centre in West Malling.
Back in that winter for the shoot it was
a freezing, grey winters day with frost
on the ground. This time it was a
humid, wet May day with a murky mist
hovering - thank goodness Stewart has
a penchant for bright orange Jeeps.
One of his requirements was for
colour coding on the new JK Rubi so
the ared arches and hard top roof are
in Sunset Orange also. Youll notice that
the JK is actually tted with a black soft
top in the pictures. He had recently
switched roofs for the summer
although we had only enjoyed a few
days of open-top type driving so far. The
other distinctive feature youll notice is
the bonnet. Not a standard Rubicon
item. This is the USA-spec 10th
anniversary Mopar Power Dome Hood,
which ts Wranglers from 2007-16 and
was installed by the UK dealer when it
arrived in the UK, as were the Mopar
Rock Rails that also appear on the 10th
anniversary US Rubicon.
Flitting back to that feature in 2013
the two Rubis look so different and this
latest project is a truly impressive beast.
It towers over Stewarts original JK. He
hadnt lifted that rst model when we
met, but this one has been tted with
an AEV DualSport SC suspension kit
that has raised the body by a whacking
4.5 inches and includes Bilstein shocks
with remote reservoirs. It came with a
geometry kit, which changes the
steering arm to a lower position and
helps keep the Jeep stable, explains
Stewart. He carried out the lift himself.
It was weird removing a brand new
suspension system without even having
used it in anger, he laughs,
but it took me a weekend
and was a fairly
straightforward job. Over the

best tackled in a lifted four-door. On
the extreme drops my two-door felt less
stable and in certain places the
four-doors were nding it much easier,
he laughs. So next time with his Sunset
Orange Wrangler Rubi he will not only
grab a lot of attention, but no doubt nd
the whole experience much more fun
and more in his comfort zone. Chris
Wood of AEV who was leading the Trail
following weekends he tted more AEV said I would be better off in a four-
equipment in the form of a premium door, said with a resigned nod.
front bumper with Warn 10S Zeon Other, less adventurous trips are
winch, rear bumper with water tanks planned with his Jeep Owners Club.
either side and HiLift jack mount and Since setting it up in 2012, the club has
tyre carrier (with handy shovel grown to around 2700 members who
compartment), front skid plate, front cover the whole Jeep spectrum, from
and rear differential covers, the AEV those with a standard Renegade, Above: The Dozer
Rear Vision System, Fuel Caddy plus Cherokee or Grand Cherokee of all ages, Orange paintwork
JPF 901XSD driving lights and 37in Willys Jeeps to heaps of Wranglers and to makes the Rubicon
Salta wheels in black wrapped in only real issue with any of the mods he Stewart, Bob and many others with their come alive in the
37/12.50R17 BFGoodrich MT T/A carried out was cutting a hole in the highly-modded JK Wranglers or CK7s. forest!
KM2s. I had to re-ash the ECM to 3mm steel rear bumper to We have the whole spectrum and appeal
cope with the larger tyre size and accommodate the recessed fog lights: to the whole family in their factory-spec Below left: It is tted
adjusting the speedo. I also had to That was nerve wracking! he admits, Jeep to the die-hard off-roaders and with an AEV DualSport
modify the exhaust to clear the Oh, and drilling the steering knuckle on expedition vehicles. There are about 10 SC suspension kit,
propshaft, says Stewart. All seemed the suspension. But I like a challenge, Rubicons in the club these days, many of which has raised the
relatively simple to sort with help from he added, laughing. Like his previous which are standard, powered by the body by 4.5 inches!
Bob on the suspension lift. In fact, the Rubicon, there are plans to improve it
further and they include a snorkel
more for dust than improving an already
ve extra inches of wading depth and
a Genesis off-road dual battery: That
will take about four hours; I have to take
the whole tray and fuse box out.
The challenge is what Stewart enjoys.
Having taken part in the Rubicon Trail in
Moab in a hired two-door Wrangler,
Stewart plans to take his Rubi out to
the US in 2017 and do it properly.
The hired TJ had an AEV 3.5in lift and
cost me US$900 for three days. It was,
of course, LHD, which was weird
enough but then the diff lockers were
on the wrong side and it was a shorter
wheelbase than I was used to. It took a
while to get the hang of it, he smiles.
Stewart turned out to be the only
two-door on the Trail and he got lots of
funny looks; it seems the Rubicon is

off-road centre days where JOC hires a
ITS ALL WRIGHT

site and offers off-road tuition; the
terrain is always suitable for standard,
gentle off-roading or extreme for the
Thanks to guys at the Ian Wright Driving Centre near
modded boys and girls.
West Malling in Kent for the use of the site for our
Accompanying him on these events,
photo shoot. Visit www.thewrightevent.co.uk for
and also on our wet and grey morning
details of 4x4 courses, events, special offers, quad
at Ian Wrights gaff, is fellow JOC
driving days, private hire and other associated venues.
director Jim Olexa originally from Detroit
who has lived in the UK for 14 years.
Jim owns an immaculate, brilliant blue
US-spec 285bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol
Pentaster engine, as is Stewarts. Stewart
says he has sold a fair proportion of
those Rubis to club members.
His similarly-powered old Rubi under
the pilotage of Bob now leads
expeditions and is off to the Arctic next
winter, and the club is off to Camp Jeep
in Spain via the Pyrenees in June, plus 2003 TJ Wrangler with a 2in lift and
a trip to Corsica and a trip to the sway bar disconnects, plus a Rubicon.
American Auto Club International event He was meant to sell his TJ when he
in August, as well as some other car bought the Rubi from the States, but
shows like Bournemouth on Wheels couldnt bring himself to, so he sold his
to enjoy fun on the beach and where wifes Kia, bought her the Rubi and kept
you will probably be able to see a the TJ. We like that. She has a 2.5in
replica of the Jurassic Park Jeep. There Teraex lift on her Jeep, it sits on 33in
are also plenty of club greenlaning days, BFGoodrich KM2s and is a 10th
such as in the Lake District, and anniversary model. He got involved with
JOC after buying the TJ and looking for Jeep ownership in the UK now that
Jeep clubs online. He went to a club there are no more new Defenders to
Bagshot event, met Stewart there and buy and second-hand models are like
the rest is history. gold dust. Jeeps dont get stolen quite
During their joint running of the club, as frequently, either... It seems there are
Jim and Stewart have noticed an many who now realise how much
interesting, (in fact I think we can be capability they are getting for a lot less
forgiven for calling it an historic trend) money, how much more comfortable a
that they are attracting former diehard ride it is and how adaptable the latest
Land Rover owners. With the Jeep Wrangler is.
Defenders recent demise some are As Stewarts Jeep shows. You can
being tempted to what was the dark do a lot to a Wrangler, or do nothing,
side and actually trying out their and have a great vehicle that you can
deadliest rivals. There are quite a few have a lot of fun with. Joining the Jeep
who have joined our forum and buying Owners Club is a great way to start to
Jeeps, remarks Jim. One chap who learn about Jeep ownership and what
having bought a Wrangler said: I will you can do. Even though Stewart has a
never buy that heap of junk again!, unique JK Wrangler, he gets just as
meaning the Defender. Now that will excited when he sees a new Renegade
upset many Land Rover fans, but it is owner turn up to a club day with the
cheering to hear that the twain shall kids in the back having a ball on their
meet and we hope it encourages more rst off-roading jaunt in a standard or
Trailhawk spec and learning about what
the vehicle can do.
Top left: Stewart We wish him luck in Moab next year
Harding; one happy and who knows what ideas hell come
Wrangler owner! back with? A new powerplant,
perhaps? Ive toyed with the idea of a
Above middle: Fellow supercharged engine, like the 6.4 Hemi
JOC director, Jim or a 6.1-litre, he muses. Who knows
Olexa, has a very tidy what well be featuring from him in a
2003 TJ Wrangler few years time...
CONTACT THE JOC

Website: www.jeepowners.club
Email: stewart.harding@jeepowners.club
Tel: 01580 892919
Facebook: Jeep Owners Club UK
Twitter: @JeepOwnersclubuk

MY FAVOURITE JEEP N O .2 HILS EVERITT
I
have owned a couple of of XUH 4. Decked in a deep Express suspension lift, AEV failed on hillclimbs that my rear
Jeeps, both Grand burgundy red it had a 2in lift and snorkel and winch bumper with diff locker and traction control just
Cherokees. The first one was knarly tyres. When our 2008 Warn 9.5ti Theromometric winch, allowed me to saunter up...
a 51-plate WJ Limited and Sport arrived it had its original that did, ahem, actually have to It was also great to drive on the
after eight years of ownership, I plate, but once all the mods had be used on one occasion on a road. Yes, with that lift and those
upgraded that three years ago to been done, and wed had plenty monstrously steep and traction- M/Ts it was quite a quirky ride that
a 2009 WK Overland. I have loved of fun in it, Jeep re-registered it as less slope. I just ran out of revs needed reigning in on occasions,
them both, but neither takes the the new XUH 4 and there it after failing to render enough but that didnt bother me. Other
prize as my favourite Jeep. No, found fame and good throttle gusto a third of correspondents were not so
that accolade has to go to our fortune. The the way up the hill. delighted with its on-road ride,
long-term Jeep Wrangler Sport, magazine took it Even my 265/70 but I loved being so high up and
an 08-plate short-wheelbase JK on some great R17 Cooper attracting plenty of nods and
that when it arrived from the Jeep off-roading Discoverer smiles, although there were
press fleet office in 2008 the trips, but once STTs couldnt inevitably the odd glances of
year of launch was pretty stock, I became get enough disgust and ridicule in between.
apart from the rear locking diff Editor of the grip on the Pure jealousy I always reckoned.
and electronic disconnects for the magazine in loose earth. Jeep took it back for an event
front sway bar (factory fit options) 2009, my rst But throughout and I didnt drive it ever again,
with its 174bhp 2.8-litre CRD job was to take the rest of the much to my dismay. The mods
engine and six-speed gearbox. possession of the trip, which were eventually removed and
But over the course of several mighty JK myself. included severe Jeep sold it on. Id love to know
months, Steve Fagioli took it Perks of the job. off-roading over rocks where it is. Any info on KU08 YLS
under his wing and gradually I had many adventures in it, but and through rivers and over some will be gratefully received. It was
modded it to a spec that turned the best was a drive to France to quicksand-type ground, me and a magnicent long-termer and
the already highly capable take part in the famous Milles XUH had a ball (I was glad of the looked great. Our XUH as it
Wrangler into an off-roading giant Rivieres off-roading extravaganza Rugged Ridge diff cover, Rugged became known, was a great Jeep
of a machine. in 2010. We also took along a Ridge tough rear bumper and anyway, but with Steve waving
In previous years, the magazine stock Defender 90 on that trip, skid plates) with gorgeous his magic mod wand over it we
had run a long-term previous but my XUH made mincemeat of low-down torque and engine- had a sublime off-road steed. The
generation TJ Wrangler from the Solihull offering with my front braking to die for; not at all best Jeep, in my eyes, no
Jeep, which had the number plate and rear diff lockers, 2in Rubicon smirking with glee when the 90 competition. HE

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THERE
IS A
STORM
COMING
From the purchase of a family fun vehicle,
to a successful business building bespoke
Wrangler conversions, we went to meet the
father and son partnership behind
Jeepey.com
Words: Nigel Fryatt
M
any offspring end up the drive, but a couple of older family TJ came into Andys
with one of the second-hand Land Rovers where possession and he started
familys hand-me- bought so that some mud-plugging modifying it, going to events and
down cars, and a few fun could be had. Andys initial getting involved with other
enthusiastic sons and daughters off-road driving lessons where, enthusiasts. This led to the launch
might look at modifying the therefore, behind the wheel of a in 1999 of the website Jeepey.com
vehicle, or certainly personalising it; 1980 Range Rover V8 and an even and the establishment of a club
few, however, follow this particular older Series III. Its interesting to that grew quickly and became the
route and end up with a successful note that this baptism did not lead site to visit if you owned a Jeep.
company, building bespoke down the traditional route to Now the early 2000s, was not
Wranglers for customers. become a Solihull devotee and we the greatest time for Jeep as a
Surprising perhaps, but thats had to ask why Land Rover was company, and when the global
exactly what happened with the dropped, with interest returning to recession hit, the very existence of
Bonner family, when after visiting a the Jeep brand. the Jeep brand looked doubtful.
Jeep show back in 1997, father I think it was the TJs open top, Ironically, it was probably these
Mike bought a new Jeep Wrangler and the 4-litre engine. It was problems that actually helped
TJ, 'just for fun. Understandably, different, it indicated a lifestyle and Jeepey.com grow. After being
since it was a brand new Jeep, it was certainly more fun and less approached by one major
Mike was less enthusiastic about agricultural, says Andy. But it aftermarket supplier at a
letting son Andy take the thing wasnt enough, and eventually, Jeep event, Andy and
off-road, but the bug had bitten. when the warranty had run out Mike started retailing
The smart new TJ remained on says father Mike laughing, the specialist parts, under the

brand name Jeepey Mart, where these
parts were made available to other club
members, which along with much
needed technical advice, became an
invaluable resource for owners.
Back then, explains Mike, we were
helping people keep their Jeeps on the
road. People didnt know who to
contact, was it Chrysler or even
Mercedes? It wasnt easy to own a
Jeep back then! Its fair to comment
that it was enthusiasts like Jeepey.com
that kept the brand going when the
global nancial disaster meant the
company had far more important things
to worry about than what size wheels
would t under an early TJ without the
need for a suspension lift Jeepey.com
knew, though.
Thankfully, there has been a
signicant revival with the Jeep brand
since Fiat became involved, and Mike
and Andy have been able to develop
the Jeepey.com brand further. They
now have much closer association with
the company and the dealership
network, resulting in the range of parts
now available on the website
increasing, covering the entire Jeep
range and backed up by solid technical Mike puts it, the client is king and they to them that they remain known and
knowledge. And then a Storm came will aim to build a Wrangler to meet respected as a small family concern.
This latest development seems quite customer demand, or where possible Many readers will know that Jeepey.
natural when you know the story behind to exceed expectations. com are behind the Jeepey Jamboree,
Jeepey.com. Some people, this writer The family nature of the company which as you read this, will have
included, didnt even realise that the extends to Andys wife driving a new celebrated its ninth event. It takes a lot
name was actually Jeep E Y, as in Jeep Renegade, while Mikes wife has a new of time, effort, and people, to put on an
East Yorkshire, as the company is Cherokee. It was logical to ask, off-road event and its the dedication of
based at Melton, just outside Hull. The therefore, whether the Storm approach the Jeepey.com club members that
Storm model range offers a more might extend to these new models. makes this possible. The event makes a
dynamic image, however, whereby this Andy laughs as he explains that hes prot, and this goes to the Yorkshire Air
family business will now build you a been trying to persuade his wife to let Ambulance; to date, Jeepey.com has
bespoke Wrangler, as Andy explains, if him modify the Renegade, especially as raised over 10,000 (and that was
the customer can dream it, we can they now have a kit to give the vehicle a before the 2016 event), which is a very
build it. This can mean a Storm built to one and a half inch suspension lift. creditable achievement.
order on a completely new vehicle, or a Modest perhaps, but enough to give If you are looking for a bespoke
customer bringing them an existing the excellent Renegade a little more Wrangler, it seems logical to talk to these
vehicle for conversion, or just sitting ground clearance. You know that its guys and create a Storm. In the Jeepey.
down with Andy and Mike discussing only a matter of time then before there com workshop as this is being written is
what they want, what works, what is will be some very interesting Renegades the rst Storm Diablo, which is a
possible and then leaving with a lot of leaving the workshop two-door Wrangler Rubicon, sitting on
boxes full of mods to take home for a One thing most obvious when talking 37inch tyres and nished in all white
DIY conversion. And that is one of the to Andy and Mike and that is while they Raptor specialist paint covering and
facts that appeals to many customers. want to develop the company, and have we do mean all white! We hope to bring
This is a small family business, where as the ideas and plans to do so, it is vital you more details when its nished.
CREATE A STORM
If you are looking to modify your Jeep, or
need a difcult to source part, then check
out the Jeepey.com website and delve
into Jeepey Mart. If you want to consider a
The important personal Wrangler Storm, then you can go
ingredient with the to the dedicated website, or give Andy or
Storm concept is Mike a call: 01482 666491
that these vehicles
are bespoke, so you Web: www.jeepey.com
are not likely to ever Email: sales@jeepey.com
see an identical one, Web: www.stormjeeps.com
either on or off the Email: sales@stormjeeps.com
road!

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PAST
T
o celebrate the anniversary, Jeep what an inspired move that was! Then in 1946, that linked an automatic transmission to the
collected together nine of the key along came the Willys Wagon, the first all steel four-wheel drive system. It also had
vehicles in its history for this bodied wagon, seating seven, and claimed as independent front suspension, another first for a
photograph. It all starts with the the worlds first SUV. The years that followed 4x4. Things went even more premium with the
Willys-Overland MA/MB, which after the saw major improvements in engines, axles and Grand Wagoneer in 1984, but its probably fair
Second World War developed into the Jeep transmissions and Jeep unveiled the Wagoneer to say that one of the most important changes
CJ-2A (with the CJ denoting Civilian Jeep). You in 1963 claimed as the first premium large happened in 1974 with the Cherokee model SJ,
have to wonder if the company realised quite SUV, and the first vehicle from the company even more significant when the Cherokee XJ hit

TENSE
the market in 1984. This was the first allowing the SUV to run as a front drive
monocoque SUV. However, this didnt only. This is a photograph of a great
mean Jeep was ignoring the premium collection, but to us the new Renegade
sector, and the first Grand Cherokee should have been included. Perhaps
arrived in 1992. As a nod to the fact that Jeep really looks at this latest 4x4 (75th
fuel economy was becoming so Special Anniversary edition pictured,
important, 2013 saw the version of the right) as the beginning of a new era, not
Cherokee with its rear axle disconnect, to be a celebration of the past! NF

!
!
Call now on:
01452 309 983
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75
Years Of Jeep
The UKs Largest Owners Club for all Jeep models

www.jeepowners.club
ATTENTION!
The history of the modern Jeep is not based on being a great
off-roading leisure fun vehicle, its not all about lifted Wranglers,
Moah Desert drives or winning our 4x4 Of The Year. Jeeps history
is based on military demand, and some wild creations
Words: Mark Askew
Photography: From the Military Jeep in Action Magazine www.jeepworld.co.uk
T
wo names we must always Willys, Ford and Bantam. And believe it
remember in the history of or not, only two companies put in
Jeep are Karl Probst and proposals. The rst spec sheets had to
Bantam. Why? Let me be delivered to the Army by 17th July,
explain. Way back in early 1940, the US so Bantam brought in Karl Probst (an
Army were looking for a lightweight 4x4 experienced engineer, who had his own
vehicle for use as a recognisance rm in Detroit) to design their rst
vehicle. The Army, of course, gave a prototype. And by the due date they
specification list that had to be met; it had delivered their rst bid, but only to
had to have a lightweight chassis, four nd that the Army had changed its
cylinder engine, four-wheel drive, high mind and were now asking for a more
wheel clearance, open sides, carry four powerful engine (the Bantam only had
men, grade-climbing capability, have a 20bhp) and the Army now wanted
carrying payload of 600lb and weigh no 40bhp. So it was back to the drawing
more than 1300lb. board, but Karls rst problem was not
On June 27th 1940, the Ordnance the horsepower, but getting axles
Technical Committee in Washington strong enough and light enough to take Top: The rst Bantum pilot model, the grandad of all Jeeps, delivered to
gave out bid options to 135 the extra power that was required. So the US Army in 23rd September 1940
manufacturers, which included, GM, he came up with the answer, a Spicier Above: Around 2600 of the Bantam BRC-40s were made

which would have the capabilities for
mass production. While Willys continued
developing its model, Ford was also
invited to bid on contract for production
models, because the military felt that
Bantams small factory could not meet
the demands expected. This is where
Willys had the edge over Bantam, as
Willys once had been the second largest
vehicle maker in America (behind Ford).
On 13th November 1940 Willys had
delivered their Willys Quad prototype
model followed by the Ford Pygmy
prototype 10 days later.
Both prototypes resembled that of
axle was needed, and after nding out the Bantam (I wonder why?), and were
that they had built one for a 65bhp then tested alongside the Bantam. In
Studebaker, the problem was comparison with the Bantam, the Willys
answered. And by 22nd July 1940, Karl and Ford models were both heavier, but
had his second set of designs delivered the Willys proved to be the best, as it By July 1941, the Quartermaster
to the Army for a second inspection. had the strongest and more powerful General was calling for production of some
But at the same time, so had Willys, engine (called the Go-Devil), but their 16,000 units of a standard design. In what
Ford and Crosley (which all had model was also the heaviest, weighing marked another change in procurement
suddenly taken an interest). Although in at just over 2423lbs. policy, this was to be an all-or-nothing deal
Willys put in a lower bid, the contract All of the vehicles were deemed - the entire contract would be awarded to
for the rst prototype was given to Karl acceptable so far as performance was only one company. The QM's preferred
Prosbt and Bantam (but they only had concerned, so each company received contractor was Ford, due to the large
49 days in which to deliver the an order for 1500 additional units. For production capabilities. But this idea was
fully-operational pilot model). And by Ford and Bantam, this was great news, rejected and the contract was opened to
23rd September, their pilot model was as their vehicle's had already met the competitive bidding.
driven to camp Holabird, Maryland. specications listed by the Army and Of the three remaining companies, the
During, these rst testings, they both received further orders. For Willys-Overland company was the lowest
representatives from Ford, Chrysler, Willys however, they still had another bid at only $748.74 per vehicle, while
General Motors and Willys were in the hurdle to jump. As the Army set a new Fords bid was $782.59 and Bantam's
crowd closely watching, what was going weight limit of 2160lbs and the Army let was $788.32. Despite that low bid,
on and making notes. So that they could Willys know that they were unhappy with however, the Army's recommendation
now come up with their own ideas, based the Quads weight, and that they would came through to accept the Ford offer.
on the Bantam model. The 70 Bantam not let them go beyond the 1500 initial Again, this was done to ensure that the
pilot cars (Jeeps) were built within the models, until they could get the weight vehicle would be available in a timely
allotted time and included eight with four down. After much reducing of the manner. It was argued that the Willys
wheel steering. These 70 models (known weight, their next prototype the Willys company was nancially shaky and might
as Bantam BRC 60) were then put to the MA was born. But hot on their tails was not be able to build the vehicles in time.
test, by the US Army. Bantam with its BRC 60 and Ford with At this point Bill Knudsen stepped in,
A contract for an additional 1500 their Ford GP. And by May 1941 all three refusing to approve the Ford deal.
Bantams was under discussion, when companies delivered their pre-production Knudsen stated that in his judgement,
the decision was made that these Jeeps for testing, although Bantam was the Willys concern was a competent
additional (Bantam BRC 40s, as they a little behind, as some were still in source of supply for the number of
were now known) would be built. But production at their factory. vehicles in question. Since Knudsen was
some of the other military people wanted That was 1941. We all know which the most knowledgeable man in the
to obtain bids from larger companies, one survived the following 75 years! world regarding the mass production of
motor vehicles, there was scant room for
further discussion. By August 1941,
Camp Holabird was notied of the
decision to go with Willys for the new
military car, with deliveries to begin in
November 1941.
After winning the contract for the
standard production of this new military
1/4 truck. The original order was for
16,000 units, so back to the drawing
Top left: The Ford GP, board Willys went, the selection of Willys
with over 5000 made standardised the design on the Willys
chassis, though the nal product
Top right: The Ford incorporated the Fords square hood
GP, with over 5000 design and grille, made up of heavy bars,
made in total as well as at fenders. The Willys name
was no longer stamped on the front edge
Left: The rarest pre- of the hood and the head lamps were now
standardised Jeep, set into the grille area. The nal,
the Willys MA, only standard version was dubbed
1500 were made the Willys MB. After a run of

nearly 26,000 units the grille design was
revised yet again to the nine slotted grille
stamping that we all know and love today.
Bantam and Ford were frozen out of
the action for the moment, though events
would soon alter that. On December 7th,
1941, Japan launched a murderous
attack on the American navel base at
Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, sinking or disabling
several of the Navys largest ships and
killing hundreds of uniformed young
Americans. Despite American efforts to
remain on the sidelines, they were
suddenly placed into the war. The need
for the new military car was now going to
be greater than the most optimistic had
envisioned. Besides the US Army needs,
thousands of new scout cars would
eventually be supplied to allied armies in
virtually every theatre of the war.
Events picked up speed. The
previous Jeep orders, which had
seemed so lucrative, now seemed
insignicant. Even the 16,000 unit order
that went to Willys paled in comparison
to what the military was now calling for.
Along the way, and acutely before the
attack on Pearl, Ford won the right to
also produce Jeeps for the military. The
Quartermaster still wanted a second
source of supply. A compromise was
reached by having Ford agree to
produce the Willys design under
licence. Willys would turn over copies of Top: Willys built over
all the designs so that the Ford could 359,489 of them
now build the standardised Jeep. The (Willys MB)
Ford product would be designated the
GPW (for General Purpose Willys or G Right: While Ford only
for Government and P for 80inch built 277,896 (Ford
wheelbase, W for Willys) which GPW) By the end of the war, Willys had built when ofcers representing the military
indicated that it was a Ford GP, but built some 359,489 units, while Ford built forces of imperial Japan set out to sign
to the Willys standard design. Willys, Below: Rare picture some 277,896 and as both companies the articles of surrender in September
however, never received any fees or of the MT-TUG, long were using the same design and parts, 1945, they were driven part of the way
remuneration for this. wheelbase 6x6 this meant that all parts were in a Jeep. The war in Europe was
interchangeable. Both Jeeps had the already over, in fact World War II was
2.2-litre Willys or Ford side-valve engine now nished, and at this point so was
(named as the Go-Devil), and both were the production of the military Jeep,
mated to the three speed manual although it was to continue life as a
gearbox. For most of their war days, civilian version.
they both came with six volt electrics, Many have tried to copy the Jeep
although some were made with 12 volt over the many years since its birth and
towards the end of the war, or may have some with success, but they all, should
been converted by individual armies always remember that Jeep, was the
depending on their needs and usage. original 4x4xFar, and it has over 75
It seemed altogether tting, then, that years of off-road experience.
THE 6X6 JEEP - THE TUG

The Willys MT-Tug, was a 6x6 Jeep developed as an all purpose carrier, with the idea of using a longer and stronger wheelbase to carry a
37mm gun. The rst idea, was for a 6x6 long wheelbase Jeep. Although not too much is known about them, pictures are very rare. The more
common and most photographed Tug, is the T-14, this came around after the Tank Destroyer Command were trying to develop a quick and
lightweight Tank destroyer. Their rst attempts used a Bantam BRC-40 or T-2-E1, but due to its short wheelbase, it never got out of the
development stage, due to the size of the 37mm gun. However, the T-14 Tug, was just right for the job. Six examples were built in 1942, using
the Tug chassis, and even one called the T-13 which was identical, but built on the Ford chassis. In the end, the Tug idea was dropped,
partly due to the fact that Willys did not have the time to develop it, as they were still behind with the production of the standard Willys Jeep.
Plus the Tank Destroyer Command, needed a vehicle that could carry four men, lots of ammunitian and could be produced quickly. In the end,
they turned to the Dodge 3/4 truck, which also had more room. The next design on the Tug chassis, was the T-24 Scout Car, built by Willys
with Armour plating by the Smart Company. This too, had a 37mm gun tted, but it was too heavy, so that idea went to ground.

HALF-TRACK JEEPS
After America had entered the war, one were 4.75 x 19, the other two tyres
of the most important military bases were 4.00 x 12. Oversize front wheels
was the Aleutians in Alaska, but with were tted with 7.50 x 16 and the
bad weather and a lot of snow, the output of the standard G0-Devil engine
need for tracked vehicles was had been raised to 63bhp, at 3900rpm.
important. So the US Army Air Corps The two front tyres could also be
got in touch with the Canadian replaced by big skis when the snow
Bombardier Company with the idea to was particularly soft and deep. Thus
develop tracked vehicles using rubber equipped, the machine had a ground
wheels of large diameter driving a wide, loading of less than 1kg/cm2. As a
exible track with metal cross bars. result of these rst tests, a new version,
These designs were to include the a little lighter, with a smaller rear
following Jeeps. compartment was tried out under the
First of all, they developed a steering
track system for the Jeep, which looked
name T-29. Further modications to
the body led to the nal version, the
THE ARMOURED JEEP
like the ideal vehicle for the conversion. T-29-E1. In spite of lengthy tests, the
During the time of the
The rst model, called the Half-Track Half-Track Jeep, never won approval
Above: The T-25 development of the 6x6
Snow-Tractor T-28, took the form of a and was never put into production. On
Smart armoured car/ Scout Car, the same
lengthened Jeep with an overall length the other hand, the vehicle which was
Jeep, built on the Smart Armour Company
of 4.06m and the rear compartment chosen instead of it, was built by Allis
Willys MA was testing the idea of
completely redesigned to permit the Chalmers for the same job, and did
an Armoured Willys
tting of exible track, by Bombardier or however use the engine, clutch,
Far left: The T-29 Jeep. The rst prototype
Chase. The pneumatic tyres at the rear, gearbox, differentials and steering from
Snow Tractor, slightly was based on the Willys
with cleats forming a driving wheel, the Jeep.
differed from the MA and was known as
T-28, mainly being the the T-25-E1. This was
short rear body and then followed by T-25 -
leaf springs that were E2 and T-25-E3. But
placed upside-down none of them were
successful due to the
Left: The T-28, the weight and then the
last Half Track Jeep to lack of power. And by
be built, although it is 1943 the development
believed that they built was dropped.
three of them!
THE FLYING JEEPS - FLEEPS

Thanks to the defeats inicted on the Japanese that the project was feasible, he then heard
Armies in the South Pacic, Australia was saved that the British Airborne Forces were carrying
from invasion. But battles still raged in New out similar test on a design they called the
Guinea and due to the nature of the country, i.e. Rota-Buggy. But as the Fleep was about to be
thick lush jungle, supplies could only be tested in December 1943, the project was
delivered by air. So in March 1943 the abandoned in view of the advances made by
Directorate of Inventions for the Australian Army, the allied forces in New Guinea. Back here in
which was run by Sir Lawrence J. Hartnett, was the UK the tests continued and on the 15th
asked to design a Jeep for the purpose of ying. November 1943 at Sherburn-in-Elmet, the rst
Using parachutes was not the answer, due to test ght took place, so the Rotabuggy or
the terrain, so he looked into the idea of a rota Fleep, really did y, but after a number of tests,
helicopter system. He began studying the it was decided to end the programme, due to
Autogriro blades idea, and when he realised the instability of such an aircraft/Jeep.
Above: The Rota-
Buggy, just before
THE SEEP, FORD GPA, they abandoned the

idea
THE WATER GOING JEEP Far left: Shown here

in Western Europe, If you want to know
Basically Ford built some 12,785 of them this Seep (GPA) had more about Jeeps
from 1942, until September 1943. As an to be pushed up the military history, then
on land and water going vehicle, based on bank check out the Journal
the Ford/Willys Jeep. It saw lots of service of the Military Jeep,
all around the world, but it was found that Left: And yes they compiled by author
it was not a great vehicle for the job it was also made several Mark Askew. To nd
intended for, as it could only climb out of versions of a Tank out more, go to www.
rivers that had slight sloping banks. Jeep too jeepworld.co.uk

MY FAVOURITE JEEP N O .3 NIGEL FRYATT
W
hile I havent actually There were a few coughs and Jeep, it certainly took a healthy behind the wheel of the very latest
owned a Jeep splutters before the 2.2-litre unit boot-sized stomp to force the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, with its
model, I have decided it would run, and the long brake shoes to have any affect on powerful headlights bouncing off
certainly been stroke engine only delivered the vehicles speed! My smile was the riverbeds rocky sides, creating
behind the wheel of quite a few; around 60bhp but it was even wider as we ew down the stark shadows that appeared to
some more memorable than the remarkable how competent this slope, tempered perhaps by the dance in front of us as we crawled
others. It is, however, a time for a unit felt, as I bounded off across thought this was something of a over boulders and squirmed
confession here. During my the sandy terrain at Slindon. Taking retired lm star and didnt deserve through the soft silty sand. The
previous time as editor of this my time, the gearchange was too much rough treatment. Its also Cherokees Selec-Terrain
publication, back in the 1980s, remarkably slick for a machine of sobering when behind the wheel four-wheel drive system was rmly
one wheel I had not sat behind this age, and the smile was of something that in the 21st in Rock mode, which linked to the
was of a proper Willys Jeep. That beaming across my wind Century is such fun to drive, smooth and controllable V6
omission was corrected five years blasted face as I to remember that fun Pentastar petrol engine and the
ago, when we were celebrating the crawled, bounced was not the reason Firestone Destination All Terrain
manufacturers 70th Anniversary. It and bounded it was built. tyres made for effortless progress.
seemed sensible to me that we across the But is it my Now for some, proper off-roading
should get an original and match sand. Much of favourite Jeep? seems to involve grit and dirt
it up against the then latest Elusive Elaines Actually, if Im nding its way into every crevice of
Wrangler, and with a little help from life these days honest, that both the vehicles and the drivers
the guys at Jeep UK, we managed is as a display honour has to body. If its not a struggle, its not a
to get the famous Elusive Elaine vehicle, but it go to one of the drive. Well, Im too old for all that
Willys to be delivered to the has made more up-to-date these days. Having a vehicle that
excellent Slindon off-road site for numerous TV and models. Since can be enticed to traverse difcult,
the photoshoot. lm appearances. returning to the but admittedly not impossible,
You can often tell what a vehicle Taking that into Editors chair, I have terrain suits me just ne. Add to
is going to be like just from that account I was trying to be enjoyed driving the very that the fact that back on the
rst impression. Land Rover relatively restrained, and I latest models from the company, tarmac, the Selec-Terrain can be
Defenders look right, ready to be remember making sure everything models designed and built with the switched to Auto, the excellent
off-roaded, as do Jeep Wranglers, was OK, that low range was new company owners, Fiat. And it stereo system can be switched on,
and up close, so did Elusive Elaine. engaged, before I attempted one is to a much newer model that my and the drive home can be quick
The magazine had driven this particular decline; not that steep, favourite Jeep accolade is to be and comfortable. Elusive Elaine
famous Willys Jeep before, but it but quite long. It all started OK as presented. certainly impresses like a great
was certainly my rst time, and we crawled down, but the length Off-road driving memories are Hollywood actress of the 1940s
Bob Cooke had to point out to me of the descent did mean that with many, but I will always remember should, but Im more a modern
that it had a oor starter button, speed increasing, a touch on the my experience of driving a dried Trailhawk man. And if that means
necessary to coax the wonderfully brakes was needed. Well, touch out river bed in the Agafay Desert, Ive gone soft then, frankly my
named Go-Devil engine to life. is not what was designed for this in Morocco, at night. This was dear, I dont give a damn. NF

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JEEP DOCTOR
Jeeps have strong engines, there are a plentiful supply of
spares available and lots of backup from excellent independent
specialists, so take a look through our pages of tips and advice
on the best ways to maintain these 4x4s
Words: Rob Hawkins
T
he Jeep brand has always had a of proven mechanical components, areas servicing suspension and brakes, and
strong off-road reputation such as the brakes and suspension are dealing with modified vehicles. The majority
throughout the 75 years it has been straightforward to maintain and there is also of our advice concerns the popular Jeeps,
in existence, matched with an a strong aftermarket of specialists and such as the Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand
equally positive reputation for having sound tuners. So the following pages provide an Cherokee, but weve also consulted the
mechanical components and a no nonsense assortment of Jeep related hints and tips, experts concerning the more recent Patriot,
approach to maintenance. Thanks to the use ranging from common engine problems to Compass and Commander.
SPANNER SIZES
You may need a mixture of AF and metric spanners and sockets to work on a Jeep.
Anything manufactured in the USA is often constructed with AF sized nuts and bolts
(fractions of inches, such as 9/16in), whereas European components, such as the Italian
VM engines and German VW and Mercedes diesel engines use metric ttings (measured
in millimetres). In some cases, metric spanners and sockets are suitable for AF nuts and
bolts, such as a half-inch bolt head, which can usually be undone with a 13mm spanner.

VM 2.5-LITRE DIESEL ENGINE
The 2499cc turbo diesel VM engine found in the freeze in the coolant and this inevitably leads to
majority of 1994-2001 Cherokees should last for corrosion in the alloy cylinder head and cast iron
200,000 miles or more if the oil is changed engine block. Distortion, and cracks in the alloy
every 6000 miles, the coolant is renewed every cylinder heads are possible resulting in
two years and the injectors are checked every overheating and oil and waterways mixing.
24,000 miles. This overhead valve engine is a Chestereld based VM Diesel Specialists can
little different in its construction to most test a cylinder head for damage and sometimes
four-cylinder engines. The cast iron engine block its repairable. However, new cylinder heads are
is line bored to house the crankshaft (called a available for 200.40 each from VMDS, or 78
tunnel construction). There are four separate used. VMDS recommend re-torquing the 18
aluminium cylinder heads one for each cylinder head bolts after 12,000 miles. A lack of
cylinder. There are no timing belts or chains, just anti-freeze can also result in damage to the
a series of cogs/gears that connect the cylinder liners, which can be replaced with new
crankshaft to the oil pump, camshaft and ones. Avoid overtightening the rocker assembly
injection pump. retaining nuts. They only need to be tightened to
Head gasket failure is one of the most 22lb ft (30Nm). If overtightened, the threads can
common problems on this engine, often caused break, but repairs are possible with new studs
by a lack of maintenance. Neglect the anti- and re-threading.
Alloy cylinder heads can develop cracks

if anti-freeze is neglected. This head has Cast iron VM engine block uses a tunnel
developed a crack between the valve seats construction to house the crankshaft
The tops of the pistons are shaped to help VM 2.5 diesel has not one cylinder No timing belts or chains. Just a series of 18 head bolts need re-torquing at 12,000 miles.
with emissions and combustion head but four one for each cylinder timing gears for the crankshaft, camshaft, VMDS believe this may cause head gasket
oil pump and diesel injection pump failure if neglected
VW, MERCEDES
AND VM DIESELS
Jeep has used a variety of engines from different
manufacturers in many of the model range for reasons
that are far too complicated to go into here! The 2.8-diesel
found in the Wrangler for instance, is a VM manufactured
engine (not to be confused with the 2.7-litre V6 diesel thats
manufactured by Mercedes), which is completely different
to the successful VM 2.5 tted to the Cherokee. Instead,
this engine has a twin overhead camshaft conguration
with a single cylinder head and a more
conventional set of main bearing
caps to retain the crankshaft.
Theres also a 3.0-litre V6 diesel
manufactured by VM, which can
be found in the Jeep Commander.
The 2.0-litre CRD found in the
Patriot and Compass is
manufactured by Volkswagen.

2.5 AND 4.0-LITRE
PETROL ENGINES
Many Wranglers and on the underside of the
Cherokees are powered by sump. The oil lter is also
petrol fed 2.5-litre four- accessed from underneath
cylinder or 4.0-litre on the Wrangler but from
straight-six petrol engines. within the engine bay on the
These engines are relatively Cherokee. The 4.0-litre
straightforward to service petrol engine requires six
and we covered a litres of 10W-40 or 10W-30
comprehensive guide for the semi-synthetic oil.
Cherokee in the February The spark plugs are a
2015 issue and the little awkward to access,
Wrangler in the March 2016 and there are six of them on
issue, outlining the servicing the 4.0-litre engine. They are
on the 4.0-litre petrol concealed behind a bank of
engine. coil packs, which are
Theres one large ribbed secured with four 1/2in
auxiliary drivebelt tted at bolts. After undoing all of
the front of the engine, the bolts, carefully prise off
which drives the alternator, the coil packs to reveal the
power steering and water tops of the spark plugs. Use
pump. The engine oil should a 5/8in or 16mm spark plug
be drained from underneath, socket to remove the spark
via the 5/8in or 16mm plug plugs.
HEMI V8
Jeep has a reputation for being powered by big petrol
vee-engines, such as the 200bhp 3.8-litre V6 in the
Wrangler, but the ultimate has always been the 5.7-litre
Hemi V8 that was introduced in the Grand Cherokee in
2005. Its also a popular transplant engine and in the
April 2016 issue, we featured Chris Guilloteaus Hemi
powered Rubicon Wrangler. This isnt a conversion for
the faint hearted, requiring several parts from
specialists such as Jeep Speed Shop in California,
who sell a conversion kit, but the results are impressive
with power output of around 350bhp or more.
COMMON RAIL DIESELS

Common rail diesel engines offer direct injection and have been used by Jeep
in a number of their models including the Grand Cherokee (2.7-litre CRD) and
the Liberty (2.8-litre CRD) from 2005. The VW manufactured 2.0-litre CRD
engine is tted to the Patriot and Compass.
According to Chrysler Jeep ep Specialist near Norwich, they have found the
timing belt renewal on the VW CRD engine can
be troublesome. Correctly
setting the camshaft timing
(known as the torsion
value) is difcult to
determine without the correct ct
equipment, which they have e
access to. If the torsion value
ue is
incorrect, they have found this
his
can result in the engine juddering
dering
and hesitating at around 30mph.
mph.
This appears to be a problem m
with other VW engines, resulting
ulting in
poor fuel economy.

4i.com
CHEAP PATRIOTS AND COMPASSES
The second-hand prices of the Patriot and could be bought for less than 3500 and the and not helped by the fact that its a very tight
Compass have plummeted, so there are slightly larger Compass for another 1000 t. And if you are looking at a Patriot or
seemingly plenty of bargains to be found. At more. Beware of wiring faults on the Patriot, Compass with a 2.0 CRD engine, make sure
the time of writing, a 2007 or 2008 Patriot often caused by the loom becoming brittle the timing belt has been renewed.
AUTO GEARBOX OIL

Jeeps with an automatic gearbox usually have a dipstick that
can be accessed from within the engine bay. In most cases,
the engine needs to be warm to check the level, then work
through the gears and select Park with the engine running
before checking the level. Top up with automatic transmission
uid (ATF), but check your vehicles workshop manual rst.
If the automatic gearbox oil needs to be renewed, there will
be a drain plug on the bottom of the gearbox. In some cases,
the sump pan also needs to be removed as theres a lter
inside that has to be changed.
ENGINE SERVICING:
COOLANT
A front mounted radiator is tted to all Jeeps, which often includes a
pressure cap on the top of the radiator and a separate expansion
bottle. There are level indicators on the side of the expansion bottle,
but its also worthwhile unscrewing the pressure cap when the
engine is cold to look inside and check the level here. If you are
unsure of the age of the pressure cap, renew it to ensure it can
maintain pressure. The same goes for the coolant, which should be
tested for its quantity of anti-freeze and to check its ability to cool the
engine (summer coolant). Coolant should be renewed every 2-5
years, depending on the type of coolant used. Its also a good idea
to remove the expansion bottle and clean it out because it can
become blocked with dirt, resulting in a full amount of coolant inside
it, but a low level of coolant in the radiator and the engine.

DISC BRAKES: DIRT AND MUD
If youve been driving off-road through deep mud, then its worthwhile stripping the brakes down to clean out any dirt that has collected. On
disc brakes, remove the brake caliper, brake pads and disc brake to thoroughly clean them with a brush and brake cleaner.
DISC BRAKES:
STICKING SLIDERS
The majority of disc brakes use single piston calipers with slider bolts
that operate the outer brake pad. The sliders can seize, so make
sure they are free to move. If they are difcult to move or seized,
extract and clean them, then apply a smear of multi-purpose grease
before retting them.
STICKING WHEELS
Alloy road wheels can become seemingly welded to the hub if
corrosion settles in. If such a disaster arises, position a long,
large block of wood against the back of the wheel rim and hit the
wood with a hammer to release the wheel (make sure the vehicle
is adequately raised and supported). Once the road wheel has
been removed, clean the mating surfaces and apply a smear of
copper grease (do not apply the grease to the brake disc).

DRUM
BRAKES:
LIP
TROUBLE
If a brake drum is
difcult to remove, it
may have a lip on the
inside edge that
obstructs its removal.
This can be identied
upon removing the
brake drum and if this is
the case and the drum
is in good condition, the
lip can be ground off
with an angle grinder
and grinding disc or
abrasive paper.
DRUM
BRAKES:
GREASE
MOVING
PARTS
The brake shoe adjuster on drum
brakes can seize, so its worthwhile
making sure its adequately
lubricated with copper grease. If it
has seized, apply penetrating uid.
Apply some spray grease or
copper grease to other moving
parts, such as the handbrake
mechanism to help reduce the risk
of them seizing.
DRUM
BRAKES:
LOOK FOR
LEAKS
When servicing the drum brakes
and having removed a brake
drum, carefully peel back the
dust covers on the ends of the
wheel cylinder to see if brake uid
is leaking past the seals. If it is,
new seals can usually be tted,
or a new wheel cylinder tted.

SUSPENSION:
KNOCKING NOISES
Annoying rattles and knocks that can be heard
when driving are often caused by worn suspension
bushes and drop links. With the vehicle on the
ground, grab hold of a drop link and try to shake it.
If there is any play in it, this will usually result in a
knocking sound. Most drop links are secured with a
couple of nuts and are tted on to the ends of the
anti-roll bar.
Some knocking noises are caused by a worn
suspension bush. Armed with a long pry bar, check
for play in the suspension bushes.
SUSPENSION:
BROKEN SPRINGS
AND LEAKY DAMPERS
The majority of Jeeps are equipped especially if you regularly abuse your
with coil springs and dampers (shock Jeep. In most cases, you wont need
absorbers) at all four corners. These to remove the road wheels to inspect
can take a hammering off-road, so a the springs and dampers. Do not
quick visual check to make sure the touch the coil springs to inspect them;
coils havent fractured and the this can be dangerous, especially if a
dampers are not leaking is essential, coil has fractured.
GREASE POINTS
Grease nipples can be found on the propshaft universal joints, the case of the suspension, pump the grease through until all of the old
suspension and steering linkage on many Jeeps. Multi-purpose grease grease has oozed out. Steering linkage and propshaft UJs only require
needs to be pumped into these areas using a suitable grease gun. In a little grease to be pumped through to avoid damaging any seals.

MODIFIED
JEEPS: BIG
WHEELS
AND TYRES
Larger wheels and tyres help to
ll out the wheel arches on a
Jeep, but they may scuff the
arches (especially when the
steering is on full lock), produce
more road noise and can provide
a greater strain on wheel
bearings. The wheel bearings
can be checked by raising and
securing a corner of the vehicle,
then attempting to waggle the
road wheel at the top and
bottom to check for play.
MODIFIED JEEPS: RAISED

SUSPENSION TROUBLE
If you are considering tting a lift kit on a Jeep, make sure components such
as brake lines, handbrake cables and drop links are not overstretched. Some
kits include modied and lengthened versions of these parts to avoid
damaging them.
CONTACT THE BEST

4 PLAY JEEP
0116 276 2835 www.4playjeep.com
CHRYSLER BREAKERS
01254 301021 www.chryslerbreakers.co.uk
CHRYSLER JEEP SPECIALIST
01603 722217 www.cjs-norwich.co.uk
FTE 01268 777719 www.fte.co.uk
G-FORCE 4X4
01422 885555 www.gforce4x4.co.uk
JEEP SPEED SHOP jeepspeedshop.com
JSF 4X4 01206 396644 www.jsf4x4.co.uk
PEAK JEEP 01246 450650
www.peakjeep.co.uk
RINGROAD GARAGE
01422 377190 www.jeepspecialists.co.uk
VM DIESEL SPECIALIST
01246 455350 www.vmdieselspecialist.co.uk

CONTACT THE EXPERTS
These are the people mentioned in our special Jeep tribute, plus the major
experts that are regulars to the pages of this magazine. If you contact any of
them, dont forget to say that 4x4 Magazine sent you!
4 PLAY JEEP JEEPEY.COM (STORM) NENE OVERLAND (WILD)

0116 276 2835 01482 666491 01733 380687
www.4playjeep.com www.jeepey.com www.neneoverland.co.uk
CHRYSLER BREAKERS JEEP OFF-ROAD DRIVING PEAK JEEP

01254 301021 CENTRE 01246 450650
www.chryslerbreakers.co.uk 01829 782045 www.peakjeep.co.uk
www.4x4events.co.uk
CHRYSLER JEEP SPECIALIST RINGROAD GARAGE
01603 722217 JEEP OWNERS CLUB 01422 377190
www.cjs-norwich.co.uk 01580 892919 www.jeepspecialists.co.uk
www.jeepowners.club
FTE 4X4 SPECIALISTS VM DIESEL SPECIALIST
01268 777719 JEEP SPEED SHOP (USA) 01246 455350
www.fte.co.uk www.jeepspeedshop.com www.vmdieselspecialist.co.uk
G-FORCE 4x4 JSF 4x4 WEST COAST OFFROAD

01422 885555 01206 396644 01704 229014
www.gforce4x4.co.uk www.jsf4x4.co.uk www.westcoastoffroad.co.uk
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FEATURE VEHICLE
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

FITTING
TRIBUTE
Back in 1983, a production based
Mercedes-Benz won the Paris-Dakar at
the hands of Jacky Ickx, Over time, the
whereabouts of that vehicle have been
lost, but one man decided to build a
classic replica. It could be the real thing
Words and photography: Robb Pritchard
I
f you're a motorsport fan, for the first half off-road race of them all. exist any more, and then west through Mali
of January each year your attention has The year was 1983 and although the cars and Mauritania to the fabled Lac Rose, the
probably been full of Dakar reports. This bore nothing of the supercar manufacturer Red Lake, the traditional nish line for so many
year Peugeot, with its incredible DKR took prototypes later to come from Porsche and years. The course wasn't meticulously plotted
all the headlines ahead of a host of Minis and then Peugeot, the event certainly wasn't any out with reccie crews with Terra Trips and GPS
Toyotas, yet somewhere down the leader easier. In fact, compared to the present day's systems accurate to a metre, waypoints were
board, you perhaps might have noticed a odyssey in South America, it was much, much spotted by people in a light aircraft and it was
Mercedes-Benz in the hands of the privateer harder. The fth edition of the Paris-Dakar, as it left up to the crews to nd their own way to
Chilean team. Some 30 years ago, it was a was known then, saw the event take on a them This was years before GPS, when a
different story. Among the list of amazing staggering 12,000 competitive kilometres over compass and a map was all the crews had to
motorsport achievements, such as Formula 1, an incredible 21 days, right through the heart navigate with; which is why when a huge
Le Mans, Mille Miglia, and the WRC, Mercedes of the Sahara, the dreaded Tenere, through the sandstorm blew for three days most of the
has also claimed victory in the toughest country of Upper Volga, which doesn't even competitors got helplessly lost.

FEATURE VEHICLE
Left: Minor body

modications were
allowed - aimed
to improve the
aerodynamics of a
brick!
The car featured here is a Mercedes-

Benz 280GE and it's special in Dakar
history as it won the gruelling event
outright, with only minor modications
from the standard model. The engine
was an M110 tted with S-Class
pistons and modied camshafts (tuned
by AMG, which isn't common
knowledge) and a short-ratio differential,
5.28:1, which with the extra 70bhp
gave a top speed of 175kph. Every
other mechanical component, apart
from the special competition shock
absorbers and Michelin sand tyres, was
standard Mercedes production and
was raced off-road for 12,000km!
The bodywork saw the most
changes. For weight saving the bonnet,
wings and front doors were replaced
with glassbre ones and the rest of the
panels made out of aluminium. Because
the car was built with support (but
limited budget) from Mercedes
headquarters in Stuttgart, they managed
to get it in the wind tunnel, but only by
writing in the books that it was a test for
the in-production W124 Coupe. The
results of this test is the extra cowling at
the back. With this and the interior The vast Tenere desert makes the on their last legs and on a liason
stripped out and surplus things like the current Dakar tests of the Atacama look section disaster struck Ickx when his
heating system discarded, it weighed a like a picnic spot, especially with the axle failed. He needed to get to the
trim 1725kg, a full half a ton lighter than organisers stopping a stage when it next control within a certain time so
the showroom model. looked like it was getting too tough for Mercedes teammate Jean-Pierre
Driving the car was legendary Le some people. In 1983, it was a 1600km Jaussaud (also a former Le Mans
Man's racer, Belgium's Jacky Ickx, who raid from one remote sun and sand winner) kindly donated his axle which
had already added a fth place Dakar blasted service camp to another. they changed in the stage. This is still
nish to his six Le Mans 24-hour wins Whereas today's drivers spend a allowed today, as many top teams have
and in 1983 was immediately on the maximum of three or four hours behind a car down the order packed with
pace with rivals 1981 winner Rene the wheel per day, back then it wasnt quick response spares, as well as
Metge, future triple-winner Pierre unusual to be there for 10 or 12 A lot racing service trucks. It was instant
Lartigue and the famous Renault-loving longer when most of the eld got lost for Above: Although retirement for Jaussaud, but the
Maraeu brothers. Also in the ght was days in that giant sand storm. And the stripped of carpets sacrice meant that Ickx could go on to
the Lada Niva of Andre Trossat. It may whole event nearly ran out of fuel. The and sound-proong win the event, a victory that is still today
seem strange to imagine the diminutive late and much missed event organiser and tted with race the highest sporting accolade of the
Soviet 4x4 ghting against semi-works Thierry Sabine had to send someone to seats, the interior of G-Wagon. It is also the only win in the
Merc G-Wagons and Range Rovers, go and buy 15,000 litres of petrol. the G-Wagon remains history of the Dakar in what was
but it would eventually nish second! Near the end, a lot of the cars were remarkably 'standard' basically a series production car and

dont forget that after three weeks of the new breed of unlimited Belgian Jacky Ickx raced at a time when racers were simply that;
competition, the little Lada was only supercars it was totally they raced. He competed in Formula 1, winning eight Grands Prix and
seven minutes behind! outperformed. According to taking 25 podium results. Impressive, but he is perhaps better known
Ickx moved to the iconic Rothmans Mercedes, the car was then as a sportscar specialist, taking six Le Mans 24-Hour victories, and
Porsche team and then later to drive scrapped, but rumour has it that it one Can-Am Championship. Looking for another challenge he entered
the equally amazing Peugeot 205 T16. was sold to Ickx who then sold it Dakar Rally, winning for Mercedes in 1983. Talented? Just a touch...
The 1983 G-Wagon was re-entered a on again to an unknown buyer. These photographs (above) are of the real vehicle on the 1983 Paris-
couple more times, but of course with Whatever happened, it has been Dakar Rally. Can you actually spot the difference?

FEATURE VEHICLE
lost for 30 years, and the one you see

at shows and in a few German 4x4
magazines is a replica actually, one
made by a friend of mine. Another
person inspired by the Thierry Sabine
era of triumph and tragedy, Jorg Sand
grew up to be the organiser of GORM
(German Off-road Championship) and
writes for a big rally-raid website
(www.cross-max.de). Building the
world's only copy was a privilege and
seeing as it was based on a standard
vehicle it was a perfect workshop
project for a privateer.
A clean two-door SWB was found in
Switzerland in 2006, stripped and
rebuilt to Dakar spec with help from
people who used to work in Daimler AG
on the original project. Also keen to be
on board were original sponsors
Michelin, Hella and Texaco. And so was every now and again He actually
Jacky Ickx, who was more than happy races it! Just like the original, this one
to help with some of the ner details. has tasted the African sand in the Rallye
The vehicle that came out of the El Chott where it won a stage and it's
workshop nine months later is a faithful also won the Dakar well the 'Mini
reproduction, even down to the Dakar' in Holland, and in the 'Special'
smallest stickers and roof lights, apart class. Jorg says that its a great car to
from a few details in the engine. drive and with its diff locks gets better
Because of this, it doesn't quite have the harder the terrain becomes. It's also Above: Proud owner/
the full 220bhp the original had, but very reliable just like the original. builder Jorg Sand and
with the exhaust exiting the side without But the car is not quite nished yet. the superb replica
a silencer, it still sounds plenty powerful Jorg has just bought an M110 engine Dakar G-Wagon
enough and Jorg has to be tuned to the same 220bhp as Ickx's car. - in which he also
commended for not just letting it sit in a When its installed the car will be a competes. This is no
museum or renting it out for shows complete replica! show car!

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ADVENTURE
Atacama Desert, Chile
Emptiness, canyons, volcanoes, llamas and alpacas characterise

Chile's most northern, practically uninhabited corner. The
hardship of off-roading through the Atacama Desert at 15,000
feet is compensated for by some wonderful, natural hot baths
Words: Karin-Marijke Photography: Coen Wubbels
I
'm boiling even though the wind is
howling and temperatures are
freezing. I need to cool off so I hoist
myself up out of the thermal bath
and sit down on the edge, my feet
playing with the water. Through the slits
in the walls assembled from stone,
Main: Pushing three adobe and corrugated tin, I spot two
tons into bends like snow-capped peaks: the 20,000ft
these is a joy with Tacora volcano and its 19,000ft twin,
our 30-year old Land Chupiquia. They stand out against a
Cruiser pitch-black sky, made brilliant with stars.
The volcanoes are said to be extinct
Left: Alpacas with in but below the surface there is constant
the background, the activity. Hot water ows underground
Pomerape Volcano on until it emerges from the pores of the
the left, 20,472ft, and earth in the ghost town of Agua
Parinacota Volcano on Calientes. At night the slithering, green
the right, 20,807ft waterway is steaming, adding to the

surreal ambience of the place. We are About a week before, we had crossed the del Lluta, it meandered through the Cardones
camped at 15,000 feet, amid ruins with walls Peruvian-Chilean coastal border with our trusty Canyon. Great, 20ft high candelaris cacti dotted
still standing, roofs mostly ripped off and home on wheels: a 1984 long-wheel-base the bare slopes. The cactus grows two to three
anything of potential value taken away. It diesel Toyota Land Cruiser. Over the past inches per year and owers once a year, for only
is intriguing to be here. Who lived here? couple of years we have explored the majority 24 hours. We had left civilization far behind and
When? What did they do? Were there only of the string-bean-shaped country's regions, were surprised to come across a hostel,
men who worked in a nearby mine or was it a slowly working our way up from Patagonia with Posada Pueblo Maiko. We met the eccentric
place for families? its glaciered landscapes in the far south to the owners, Andrea and Alex, who couldn't
The hot-water stream must have been one fertile, cultivated central regions, and the remember how long they had lived here but did
of the few comforts, for doing laundry or Atacama Desert in the north. We returned to remember that their kids were born here.
washing dishes without your hands freezing check out the last area on our wish list: one of Andrea served us tea with cocoa leaves and
off. And for taking a bath, obviously. At some the remotest places in this country, a piece of ricarica. She explained that the herb grows only
point people constructed this cabin, the Atacama Desert and altiplano that are in the transition zone between the desert and
channeling the water to create a bath. situated in the uppermost corner of Chile, east the altiplano. "Here, in the highlands, your body
Coen and I relish its heat for an hour or so. of the only prominent city in the area, Arica. tends to retain water, which may cause bowel
There's just the two of us, stark naked, the We stocked up on food and water, lled the problems. Ricarica helps your intestines", she
door unlocked and nobody around for miles. diesel tanks, mapped a general itinerary, red up added. We exchanged bread: a chunk of our
We treasure the peace and quiet after two the old 3B engine, and we were on our way. home-baked, multigrain loaf for some of her still
intense days of driving. After the asphalted road cut through the Valle warm white rolls and then said our goodbyes.

ADVENTURE
We followed Alex's tip to boondock in a

nearby valley, which protected us from
the erce winds that howled over the
high plains. Early morning we continued
to Putre, sharing the road with
thundering trucks. Annually, some
70,000 Bolivian trucks ply between the
province of Arica and Bolivia. The
highway runs straight through the hearts
Above: Camping
of national parks and other protected
at 14,800 feet at
landscapes such as Lauca National
the base of the twin
Park, a Vicua National Reserve and the
volcanos of Tacora
Salar de Surire Natural Monument.
and Chupiquia
Just outside Putre, we took a turn
north and hit the dirt, drawing a long
Left: This is Land
trail of white dust behind the Land
Cruiser country
Cruiser. Generally a smooth surface,
this trail alternated with stretches of
Below: Flamingos at
uncomfortable washboard; we let some
Salar de Surire
pressure out of the tyres to prevent the
Land Cruiser from bouncing too much. As a result, we encountered more
We drove around the Tapaca volcano animals than humans: herds of llamas,
that had received a fresh layer of snow alpacas and vicuas that fed on the
and looked as if it had been sprinkled scrub or the soft grass in verdant
with powdered sugar. The road went up bofedales: swampy alluvial grasslands.
to an altitude of either 15,680 feet, if we The animals still roam freely, often with
trusted our GPS, or 17,200 feet if we a shepherd somewhere in the area, and
believed the road sign. the owners return to their villages only
The region appeared uninhabited. for special occasions, such as the
Nowadays, few Aymara indigenous annual shearing of the animals.
people live on Chile's altiplano. During We passed abandoned rail stations
the nitrate boom around 1900, the and ghost towns, and zigzagged across
highlanders moved to the cities for a a railroad track that once transported
better life. After WWII, the nitrate cargo and passengers between Arica
economy collapsed due to the and La Paz (Bolivia). We were searching
discovery of synthetic fertiliser. The for the ghost town of Agua Calientes,
Ayamaras were no longer interested in but it was a gamble which trail would
herding llamas and alpacas and stayed take us there; several petered out at the
in cities such as Iquique and horizon. The one we picked led into
Antofagasta. Peru. We turned around, back into

do it on Saturday. Where is everybody?
The small green patch on the plaza
Above: Enjoying the is being eaten by llamas. Ghost towns
view of the Salar de may feel odd but the emptiness of this
Surire while making modern place feels even weirder.
lunch Uninspiring as the place is, we
do spend the night here because,
Far left: In bright coincidentally, we arrive on a Saturday
sunlight the and learn about a Sunday market at
surreal ghost town Tripartito, where the borders of Peru,
Aguas Calientes Bolivia and Chile meet. I hope to stock
look picturesque, up on veggies and fruits, however, at
especially with the the border I am told this is impossible,
Chupiquia Volcano as I can't bring them back into Chile. In
as a backdrop fact, I am advised to leave my
vegetables at the customs ofce so I
Left: This hot won't get into trouble when returning
Chile, and were held up by a at tyre. It stream is the active from the market. The point is that you
was late afternoon and changing it left hydrothermal system can never bring unprocessed foods into
Coen with some very cold hands. of the volcano Chile. It is such a closed-in country,
The road slowly meandered uphill thanks to the Pacic Ocean on one side
until we reached 15,000 feet and by Below: Taking a and the Andes on the other, that its
the time the sunset we had found our break at 17,224ft crops and cattle are blissfully free of
spot for the night. Fortunately, Agua takes your breath easily transmitted, devastating
Calientes lived up to its name: hot away diseases. Chile likes to keep it that way
water, as temperatures plummeted to
freezing point as the evening scrub. In the distance we spot
advanced. We undressed carefully and four-legged metal structures like
sank into the hot water, savouring the miniature high-voltage towers painted
heat and tranquility. red with double-sided signs saying
The Land Cruiser lacks a heater but Chile on one side and Peru on the
has insulated walls and ceiling. We other, indicating the border. We
covered the doors and front windows with are driving through an identical
woolen shawls and blankets to keep as landscape, under the same sky that
much heat inside as possible. produces the same weather, with
Nevertheless, frost covered the inside of wildlife hopping back and forth over the
the car and in the morning all water invisible line, and if people do live here
bottles were frozen, but we had slept well. they share their culture and language.
From Agua Calientes we bounce up Yet one step can make the difference
and down over washboard to Visviri, between being in Peru or Chile. Weird.
Chile's most northern town, and are The town of Visviri consists of
quickly covered in dust again. Desert concrete: roads, houses, the plaza, with
stretches all around us, yet the an abundance of government buildings.
surroundings are colorful with white- We don't see a single soul. Even the
capped, red-brownish-tinged volcanoes Centro de Salud (health centre)
and stretches of green or yellowish is closed. You may fall ill here, but dont

ADVENTURE
Right: Llamas
crossing the train
tracks around the
ghost town of Villa
Industrial. The
green tufts denote
ownership
and does so by enforcing these kinds of

strict laws and imposing heavy nes.
Despite this setback, we hand over
our passports to the Chilean authorities
and drive to the market anyway. On the
top of the hill three ags are ying close
to a triangular column engraved with
the countries' names. In both Bolivia
and Peru are markets, albeit minor
versions of their typical markets. Stalls
offer food, multivitamins and food
supplements, and Chinese junk. We
can buy Bolivian diesel, which makes
our day. It is a lucrative business as it
costs half the Chilean and Peruvian
prices. We join locals who buy it straight
from jerry cans from Bolivian
entrepreneurs, right under the watchful
eyes of the border police from all three
countries.
Back in Visviri we try to get the at
tyre from yesterday xed, but there is no
workshop. "Only in Bolivia," people
inform us. Contrary to when we visited
the market, this crossing has to be very
ofcial. If we got caught on the Bolivian
side without a passport, we'd be in big
trouble, a Chilean ofcial explains. So
we go through the ritual that comes stop in Paricanota, next to a beautiful
with a border crossing, with Coen colonial church and set up camp.
running back and forth between green After an early morning hike in Lauca's
and blue ofce barracks to get papers National Park, we pack up and
stamped by different ofcials until all drive south. Today we enjoy the
is in order. And, once more, I hand over company of vicuas, another species of
my fresh-food basket to the ofcial. the camel family. They live at high
Half a mile down the road is an altitudes and are among the most
entrance to the Bolivian village, which is elegant creatures on earth. Sometimes
also the ofcial border crossing. Since we see no more than four, sometimes
everybody is either out for lunch or they roam in groups of dozens. Taking
taking a siesta, we enter the village pictures from up close is nearly
around a corner where there is no impossible; they don't care for people
checkpoint. A bit of zigzagging leads us and always run away.
to a workshop where the tyre is xed in We camp at Churiquays, which is not
a trice, costing a mere two dollars. In a town but only a tiny, scalding thermal
order to prevent trouble we return to the bath. We soak until we are as red as Above: Enjoying the
ofcial border crossing, to still get that lobsters but boy, does it feel good to be Termas de Poloquere
paperwork done. But again, nobody clean again and have that dust washed at Salar de Surire
is there which probably saves us a lot of out of our hair for an evening. The road
time and hassle, and we return to Chile. south continues with washboard, dust Right top: Changing
As it is early in the afternoon we and zillions of vicuas. Despite being a a tyre in the freezing
decide to move on a bit, south towards National Monument, Salar de Surire is cold at 14,800ft takes
the Vicua National Reserve, where we used for mining salt and trucks a bit more time and
nd more diversity on this part of the are driving back and forth over billions effort than you would
loop between dry land and bogs and of tons of salt deposits. The salt at expect
hundreds, if not thousands, of llamas is home to an abundance of wildlife, Right: At the
and alpacas are grazing. Blue water, among which hundreds of amingos. Tripartito market
green islands against an imposing We follow the dirt road around the lake you can buy sandals
background of white-topped volcanoes. until we reach yet another thermal bath. made from used truck
It is simply overpoweringly beautiful. We One look at that bath is enough to tyres

Top left: We spent
the night sheltered in
the Valle de Copaquilla
Top right: So, yeah

we won't venture on
that side of the fence!
Left: Sunrise at
Termas de Poloquere
at Salar de Surire.
Above right:
Probably the remains
of a llama, at the foot
of the Tacora volcano
conclude we've driven our share for the we want. We are part of a world which
day even though it is only lunchtime. is still largely unspoiled and Right: Waking up with
This time our bath is not enclosed by uncontaminated and home to an frost inside the Land
walls, but sits in an open space in the abundance of wildlife. It offers all the Cruiser
middle of a snow-white salt at. This is space in the world to drive, to hike, to
by far the most extraordinary bath we safely rough camp, to sit and admire Below: A moonless
have ever taken in our lives. That night the blackest of nights because there is night with clear skies
we sleep well even though it is the no light pollution. How can that not be a at 14,800ft is perfect
coldest night on this trip with, in the very rare privilege? for shooting star trails
morning, thick frost on the inside of the
Land Cruiser.
When we wake up, the natural pool
was steaming amid an ocean of pure
and pearly white salt, against a clear
blue sky. Landscapes don't get more
magical than this. We undress once
more and sink into the water. Just the
two of us submerged in nature's most
precious gift in freezing surroundings
such as these: a hot bath. Simply by
being here I nd a state of inner peace.
It doesn't take an effort, as the
landscape gives it to me.
It is in places like this that we feel
richer and more privileged than ever
with the lives we live. Driving here can
be tough, dusty, tedious, tiring and we
challenge the extremes we are capable
of dealing with. In regions like this we
have to watch our food supply and
drinking water and Coen has to be
creative in xing car trouble along the
way. Many will wonder what the
pleasure is of such hardship, of traveling
without the ordinary comforts of the
western world. Yet, we have all we
need: each other, a home on wheels,
and freedom to go and stop wherever

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ADVENTURE
St Brendan the Navigator
A MONKS TALE
Our journey took us to the birthplace of St Brendan the Navigator and to
where he set sail from Larne in Co. Antrim, to Scotland, then the Faroe
Islands and on to his final destination in Iceland. We all have mythical figures
and old yarns etched into our culture and so it seemed a good idea to follow
his route, only this time by modern 4x4
Words: Russ Ryan Photography: Russ Ryan, Mark OToole and Visit Faroes
M
ythical tales of adventure conquest, adventure and travel that are Above: Iceland has archaeological findings, which now
travel and exploration do etched into our culture and Ireland and some of the best 4WD throws more fact on the myth
not always reflect on the UK are no different. In the UK, King tracks in the world surrounding his 6-7th Century
actual events and over the Arthur was a legendary British leader pioneering adventures and this story
centuries these stories can often evolve who according to medieval history, led would form the basis of our latest
into something very different than was the defence of Britain against Saxon four-wheel drive adventure.
originally intended. Often the evidence invaders in the late Fifth and early Sixth Having read British explorer Tim
in these mythical stories is based on centuries. Across the water in Ireland Severins book about retracing St
writings or drawings that have been around the same period, is the legend Brendans Voyage, both myself and my
reinterpreted over the centuries. Some of St Brendan the Navigator, a medieval fellow Land Rover Defender travelling
good examples of this come from overlanding monk who many believe companion Mark OToole were
Greek mythology that has documented successfully sailed across the Atlantic fascinated by the story and it was not
stories about the origin of the world, the ocean to Newfoundland a couple of long before we started to plan our
causes of natural phenomenons, travel hundred years before Columbus. In overlanding trip in our four-wheel drives.
etc. Like most countries we all have our recent years St Brendans name is We would map a journey by land and
mythical figures and yarns about starting to re-emerge following recent sea and follow in the footsteps of part

Right: A statue
of St Brendan the
Navigator in Fenit,
County Kerry
Right: Tim Severins

replica of St Brendans
boat can be seen in
a museum in County
Clare in Ireland
of St Brendan the Navigator's journey that was written in Latin about his widely acknowledged that this book
from Ireland to Iceland. We would be travels, called the Navigatio Santi was one of the most famous travel and
doing this trip the easy way in our Land Brendani Abatis or translated (Voyage adventure stories in Western Europe. It
Rover Defenders and camping in our of Saint Brendan the Abbot). The book was an important part of folklore in
Below left: Pages
comfortable waterproof tents, unlike the outlines a detailed account of St medieval Europe and many believe it
from the 9th century
monks and Tim Severins team whose Brendan's travels in the Atlantic Ocean inuenced Columbus and his travels. In
book Navigatio
conditions were cramped and often between the 6th and 7th Century over a fact, a map that Columbus used when
Sanct Brendani
very wet as these brave adventurers seven-year period. sailing from Spain in 1492 for the
had to negotiate big Atlantic swells. Several copies of the text in this Bottom: Book written Americas featured a large land mass in
Saint Brendan the Navigators ancient book documenting this amazing by Tim Severin the middle of the Atlantic Ocean called
popularity in Europe was mainly the ancient travel have survived in about his travels in 'Saint Brendan's Island' and Columbus
result of a famous 9th Century book monasteries throughout Europe and it is the replica boat is said to have used its marking on the
map to guide him.
Examples of passages in the 9th
Century book focused on what the
adventurous monks saw and
experienced on their travels and
examples of text included being
raised up on the back of sea
monsters (presumably whales),
passing by crystals that rose up to
the sky (sounds like Icebergs), being
pelted with aming, foul-smelling
rocks, burning hills, and mountains
spouting re (which experts believe
refer to volcanoes in Iceland). He also
writes of encountering monsters and
large sea mammals (walruses,
whales) and meeting little ferry men

ADVENTURE
Above: Arriving on (believed to be the native Inuits

the Ferry in Torshavn, communities in Greenland).
the capital of the We know for certain that these Irish
Faroes monks did travel to Scotland and the
Hebrides regularly. It's also interesting
Right: Colonies of
to note that based on writings passed
Pufns on the Faroe
down over centuries the Faroese and
Islands described
Icelandic people acknowledge that the
by St Brendan as an
rst humans to tread their shores, long
Island full of birds
before the Vikings arrived, were success of British explorer Tim Severin
Left: Our campsite on seafaring monks from Ireland. in 1976/77, who left Ireland and
the Faroe Islands In recent years, the interest in the reached Newfoundland by way of the
Saint Brendan the Navigator story has Faroes, Iceland and passing by
Below: The Church
increased signicantly following Greenland in a boat built exactly to the
at St Brendans Creek
discoveries by international teams of specications laid down in the 9th
in the Faroes
archaeologists and academics, with a Century book, an adventure which was
Below right: Saint number of them believing that it is more later described in his best-selling book,
Brendans Creek likely that the book Navigatio Santi The Brendan Voyage. This book would
where it is believed St Brendani Abatis may be the earliest also act as a guide for our adventure
Brendan landed in the account of a voyage to America. This where we would camp wild along the
Faroe Islands likelihood has been endorsed by the route and try and get a feel for what

Before the Vikings, the rst people on the
Faroes were seafaring monks from Ireland
discovered in the Faroes,

Newfoundland and in West Virginia,
between 350 and 550 AD. In 2013, an
international team of researchers
working in the Faroe Islands discovered
a shoreline site that shows traces of
charred peat and barley seeds,
unmistakable evidence that human
efforts to control wind erosion,
occurring as early as 1650 years ago,
or up to 500 years before the Viking
colonisation of the Faroes.
Another archaeologist, a man called
Robert McGhee (Canadian Museum of
Civilisation) documented that the St.
Brendan story suggests that these
ancient sailors had knowledge of the
central or western Atlantic at a very
early date and that the British explorer
Tim Severins adventure in the replica
these brave adventurers experienced all monks boat was proof of the plausibility
these years ago. of St. Brendans discovery of North
For me, the best trips that I have America. It is also interesting to note
made in my 4x4 are the ones where I that in recent years a large seaside
follow a historical story or human feats rock with inscriptions resembling Irish
of discovery and adventure, and this Gaelic letters was discovered in
story with its recent emerging facts from Newfoundland and led Canada's
archaeologists would be one of the national archivist to declare, there is no
most interesting trips I have done so far. doubt that Irish monks reached our
Some recent examples of ndings shores before the Vikings.
that have brought this story alive When he Tim Severin set sail from
include evidence of human activity Brandon Creek on the Dingle
Top right: Trondur

Pattursson was a
crew member on
the Brendan replica
boat that crossed the
Atlantic
Top left: The weather
changes quickly on
the Faroe Islands
Above: Iceland is
alive with volcanic
activity
Right: Tackling the
remote tracks in
central Iceland

ADVENTURE
Peninsula in County Kerry, his boats were well up to the task in

objective was simply to determine if crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
the voyage of St Brendan and his Like Tim Severin, we also started our
fellow monks was possible. Severin Journey in St Brendan's home place in
and his team not only did this but also Fenit in County Kerry where we visited
built from scratch following the exact some interesting sculptures dominating
details from the 9th Century book. The the landscape in his memory. From
replica boat incorporated tanned Fenit we travelled to the nearby St
ox-hides with oak bark stretched Brendans Creek (near Dingle) where it
across a hand made wood frame and is believed that Saint Brendan set sail
hand sewn with leather that was then on his voyage. Unlike St Brendan who
covered with animal hides and headed out to sea, we cranked up the
covered with animal fat that would diesel engines and headed inland.
waterproof the boat. He set sail in After camping on a beach a couple
1976, leaving the Kerry coastline for of miles from Saint Brendan's Creek we
the Hebrides, then on to the Faroes then drove across the country and
and Iceland. The second leg of the headed for Larne to catch the Ferry to
journey was completed in 1977 and Scotland for the next leg of the trip.
would take the crew from Iceland past Back in the 5th and 6th Centuries these
Greenland before arriving in travelling monks would have spent a lot
Newfoundland in North America of time sailing to and from Scotland and
proving that the monks' hand built setting up monasteries, the most
Above: Wild camping

in Iceland
Far left: This 4X4
looks retired...
Left: Imposing Viking
ship sculpture just
outside Reykjavik

Brendan's boat hanging over the altar in
the church. FOLLOWING ST BRENDAN
After a brief stop over in the Faroes it
was time to pack up camp and prepare THE NAVIGATOR
the Land Rovers for the nal leg of our
journey. Our nal ferry would take us TRAVEL DISTANCES:
from the port in Torshavn to Iceland. On Total distance driven 3400km
arriving, we then hit inland to explore
and experience the crystals that rose GETTING THERE:
up to the sky, and though we did not We caught the ferry from Larne in Northern Ireland to
see any volcanoes, geologists believe Stranraer (Scotland), driving across Scotland to Scrabster
that Iceland would have had increased and catching a ferry to Iceland via the Faroe Islands in the
volcanic activity back in the 6th Century. north Atlantic. Unfortunately, this route is no longer in
Evidence of the monks being in Iceland operation as the Smyril Line, whose ferry the Norrona used
is not as strong as that in the Faroes, to stop at Scrabster, decided that this route was
other than historical Icelandic writings uneconomic for them and ceased stopping at this port. The
referring to the Irish monks being the only option currently available is from Denmark (via the
rst arriving on the Land of Fire and Ice. chunnel) or to catch a ferry from the UK directly to Denmark.
But despite this, we fully embraced this DDFS run a ferry four days a week during the peak season,
superb four-wheel drive playground which overnight brings passengers (and their vehicles) to
where we camped and tackled some of Esbjerg in Denmark. The Norrona sails from Hirtshals at the
the best four-wheel drive tracks on this top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark, to Iceland
spectacular volcanic island. via the Faroe Islands. The ferry sails on Tuesdays and
Although we had not completed the Saturdays, the Saturday route includes a three-day stop
entire leg of St Brendan's and Tim over in the Faroe Islands. The direct route entails two
famous one being Iona. We made our Severins journey we did certainly see overnights on the Ferry, as does the Faroes version, except
way towards Scrabster in the north of enough to experience what must have with this Saturday departure, you spend three additional
the country and en route we decided to been an epic adventure for the rst nights on the breathtaking and unspoiled Faroe Islands.
climb Ben Nevis and get a avour or the pioneers. Ireland with its picturesque
incredible mountainous landscape that coastal camping, Scotland with its CAMPING:
Scotland is famous for. towering mountain ranges, the Faroes We camped both wild and in campsites on this trip in
After recuperating from our climb up with its colonies of birds and Iceland Ireland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands and in Iceland. Useful
Ben Nevis, the following morning we with its unpredictable and active camping websites;
packed up and set the compass for the landscape dotted with volcanoes, Ireland www.camping-ireland.ie/
ferry port in Scrabster in the north of geysers, hot springs and fumaroles. We Scotland www.visitscotland.com/accommodation/
Scotland, it was from here that the ferry will probably never know for certain caravan-camping/
would take us to the Faroe Islands in whether St Brendan and his team of www.scottishcamping.com/
the North Atlantic. monks as described in the Navigatio The Faroe Islands
We stayed in the Faroes for two Santi Brendani Abatis really made it www.visitfaroeislands.com/en/where-to-stay/
nights camping in a coastal campsite across the Atlantic a couple of hundred Iceland
near Torshavn and from there we drove years before Columbus claimed this www.visiticeland.com/Accommodation/Camping/
to visit St Brendan's Creek. This creek new world. However, emerging
is where the Faroes believe St Brendan evidence is highlighting that an amazing INTERESTING FACTS:
landed and settled before departing on journey across the Atlantic did take The replica ancient boat that Tim Severin and his crew
his onward journey towards Iceland. place and with the ndings of stone sailed to Newfoundland in the 1970s is now on display at
This is a holy site in the Faroes and is Gaelic carvings in Newfoundland and Craggaunowen in Co. Clare, Ireland.
also the home of one of the crew on West Virginia this certainly has brought www.heritageisland.com/attractions/craggaunowen-
Tim Severins adventure, an adventurer weight to the presence of seafaring the-living-past/
and artist called Trondur Pattursson. monks all those years ago. Whatever
Beside this famous creek is a small our views are of the evidence being The British Explorer, Tim Severin was awarded both the
church and St Brendan's presence is presented by all the many experts, it gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the
still very visible today with a large certainly forms the basis of a great Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical
canvas painted by the creeks famous overland traveling adventure to follow in Society. He received the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award
resident, Trondur Patturrsson of Saint your 4x4. for his 1982 book The Sindbad Voyage.
We camped and tackled some

of the best four-wheel drive
tracks on this wonderful island

COMPETITION
Croatia Trophy
The Croatia Trophy has an attraction for competitors who want to experience one
of the toughest off-road events on the calendar. The forest is thick and difficult,
made all the more so from the fact it rains. Seemingly all the time
Words and photography: Robb Pritchard
T
here are a couple of reasons fell the night before so the whole event
teams load race cars onto has more of the feel of a large club
trailers and drive for days to event than a huge international
the EU's southernmost border competition. This is a really good thing,
for a week of hardcore off-roading. The as it means the camp has a wonderfully
first is that organiser Igor Bozikovic is friendly atmosphere; off-roaders from
one of the nicest guys you could ever all over the far corners of the continent
hope to meet and the other is that this come together to blag tools and spares
really is one of the last places in Europe and compare stories about what parts
you could run an event like this. Imagine had broken in the last stage, and that
a pay and play site the size of Anglesey, despite the constant rain making the
with the terrain of the Cotswolds and camping eld look like a rst world war
the population of a particularly remote battleeld. Teams from no less than 17
part of Siberia. It's a perfect countries entered, racing 64 cars in
combination. But there is one other two classes - the top Trophy class and
element that makes this eight day the (supposedly) less extreme
marathon so special. Adventure class.
With not too strict starting times, the As is tradition here, the action
course can be redesigned in the opened with a short blast of the
mornings depending on how much rain Prologue to set the running order for

Left: It's a BMW,
but not as you might
know it! This is Szilard
Mgyar's 'BMW'
complete with portal
axles, four-wheel
steering... and the
walnut trim from the
original vehicle's
dasboard!
Left and below:

There are some
strange things
happening in the
forests of Croatia
the rst main stage. Four cars off the

line together trying to t between the
trees and then into a ditch in front of a
thick crowd of onlookers, was certainly
a good way to blow away the cobwebs.
With eight days of some of the most
serious off-roading in the world to
come, you would perhaps think caution
would be demonstrated, discretion
being considered the best part of
valour. And with 200km of stages in the
forest ahead, surely no one would crash
just 30m from the start of the prologue.
Unlikely but that's just what Mario
Bijeljencevic did. Too much enthusiasm
in the application of the fast pedal and
he achieved a departure angle more
generally attributed to NASA than Land
Rovers before toppling back over into
the stream. Spectacular. But the Fritz

COMPETITION
Croatia Trophy
Becker school of off-roading doesn't Audi, a BMW gearbox, G-Wagon transfer forests was interrupted by Trophy Day
often result in seeing too many box, Mitsubishi differentials and Land where teams have to work together to
chequered ags. Cruiser brake disks. And something overcome obstacles and the afternoon
Fastest, albeit almost by accident, inside the steering knuckle from a Fiat of insanity known as the Circuit Race,
was Peter Whitman in his big D & G Ducato... It was with some incredulity which was three laps of a 5km track
buggy, despite the pleas of his co-driver that I saw he had entered the Trophy around an abandoned overgrown
Jim Marsden to slow down. Last year's Class and not Adventure. Under normal military base. If you let the teams go off
winner has a new build in progress but circumstances I wouldn't have given it one by one at two minute intervals and
still needed to indulge in his yearly mud much attention (apart from some everything is controlled, but set them
fetish, but on his rst time of reading the mocking scorn for bringing such a shed) off the line 10 at a time and it's chaos.
roadbook, he didn't really want to go to the Croatia Trophy, apart from one Mud, more mud The lower half of the Adventure class
out rst the next day. There are no GPS small detail. After two stages, which and a lot of water went rst, a couple of slackers holding
trails or uorescent arrows to follow in included the huge 80km monster, they makes the Croatia the rest up, but then it was the big
the forest and the book is often open were in second place. And somehow Trophy event one of boys. Karl Frost led coming down to
to interpretation so it's not kind to they stayed there for the rest of the the most difcult on the rst bottleneck but got bogged
beginners. But they had a secret event, beating Szilard in his beautiful the calendar... but down. Co-driver David Needham
weapon - an A4 laminator. The beast, fair and square. Impressive. most competitors getting out in the middle of the track to
roadbook tulip diagrams are much The daily extended brutality in the just love it hook the winch up was like trying to
easier to read if it's not splattered with
mud. Jim is not often thought of as an
expert in ofce technology but I think a
few more people will copy this clever
idea next year.
In any event, there are always a couple
of cars that stand out for different
reasons and this time it was two
Hungarians that caught the eye, with two
diametrically opposed ways of making a
4x4. Szilard Magyar has the most
stunning and technologically advanced
car I think I have ever seen. Fully
independent suspension, four wheel
steering and portal axles, and it still has
the walnut trim on the dashboard from
the BMW he used for the body. Norbert
Kalmar on the other hand has a true
scrapyard challenge creation. The base
vehicle is a battered old Soviet army
UAZ, kind of the equivalent of a Series 3
Land Rover, but with a 1.9 TDi Mk4 Golf
engine, a turbocharger from a 3-litre

change a tyre on the fast lane of the
motorway. And then 10 cars tried to
get up a huge muddy bank sliding
helplessly back down into those waiting
behind, others slewed across
sideways, chewing winch ropes, mud
ying high into the trees, spectators
running for their lives. Glorious.
Then the real event started. Four huge
stages, as well as one that started at fast Land Rover based Proto going one much less modied cars on smaller
midnight. The Wilderness Lighting Night better than his second last year to take tyres than those in the Trophy Class,
Stage was 10km of slippery side-slopes an amazingly trouble-free and but this year it was rather taken over by
and climbs in the pitch darkness, which dominating win. The biggest compliment a big contingent from Estonia who
is normally something only done when for his driving; whenever I saw him out didn't want to put their machines
something has gone horribly wrong. in the stages he made it look easy. through the terrors of the Trophy tracks
Light bars cut through the steady rain, As crazy and as hard most of us so soon before the Ladoga Trophy.
soaked co-drivers made strange think the Croatia Trophy is, compared Although not against the regulations
shadows against the trees as they ran to what off-roading they do in Russia entering an LS3-powered buggy on
out with the winch ropes - the lucky it's a holiday for those who make the 37inch Boggers and portals wasn't
ones got to bed at 3am! trek from Moscow or St Petersburg. really in the spirit of the race and
All the way from Denmark was There are few things that they unsurprisingly they utterly dominated.
Henrik Holm, who wanted to get used especially like though. The competition They'd have done really well had they
to the characteristics and capabilities here is very strong and very varied, been Trophy Class.
of his new car without the press explained Andrey. The stages are also As soon as the leaders crossed the
snapping shots of his mistakes. That very technically challenging and long nish line of the nal stage the sun came
was a little hard though seeing as he and I like driving against people who out for the rst time in eight days, but it
was in last year's winning car which is have different designs and different didn't last. A huge storm swept across
both very photogenic and the noise the driving techniques. the camp ending the event as it started,
huge V8 makes whenever he put his The Adventure Class is nominally for a giant and much loved mudfest!.
foot down couldn't help but turn
everyone's heads. A few small troubles
slowed him down but he enjoyed
himself and will race the car in the
ULTRA4 Europe championship.
Winner two years ago, Christian
Poprask in his unique looking Mitsubishi
powered Proto got a ne fth, one place
behind the ever-consistent Ruel brothers
from Belgium in their 100inch Land
Rover. Szliard Magyar took third, but
although he said he was happy to be on
the podium I know he came here to win.
The most unlikely car to nish the stage,
never mind the event, nevermind to get
second, Norbert Kalmar took his
Frankenstein UAZ to an absolutely Left: Jim Marsden
incredible runner's up spot. But is one of the
untouched out in the lead he kept since competitors to make
day one, was Russia's Andrey the long trip from the
Ponomarev in his light and deceptively UK. He won last year

Our 4x4s
Monthly reports on the exploits of
our personal fleet of 4x4s
MITSUBISHI L200
Nigel Fryatt, Editor
Spec: Barbarian
Mileage: 5219
MPG: 20.3
Recent costs: None
Arrived: December 2015
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

Bob Cooke
Spec: 4.7 Limited

Mileage: 11,077
MPG: 18.8
Recent costs: Nil (apart from fuel!)
Arrived: January 2016
TOYOTA RAV4 XT-R

Sue Loy
Spec: 2.0-litre
Mileage: 68,279
MPG: 34
Recent costs: Service and MOT
Arrived: June 2012
FUEL CRISIS
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA
Louise Limb
Spec: 3dr 2.0 TD
Mileage: 94,410
MPG: 40 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Recent costs: Just on-going Bob Cooke
fuel and tyre repairs
B
Arrived: October 2008
loke eyed my Grand turns only, but its unoccupied. I
Cherokee and asked: creep up gently, feathering the
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
What dyou get to the throttle, and just as I get to the
Hils Everitt, Editor at Large
gallon, then? line the lights change. Oh, the
I told him about 15 around snarl of raw power as I oored the
Spec: Overland WK 3.0-litre
town, 20 on a long run, average a accelerator, the surge of
Mileage: 58,500 bit over 18. acceleration that slammed me
MPG: 30ish He smirked and said: I get 60 back into the backrest, the grin
Recent costs: MOT, dent repair, out of mine. He indicated his VW that spread over my face as the
new rear light: total around 400 Passat with a 1.9-litre turbodiesel Grand stormed away leaving all
Arrived: February 2014 engine. I said: Wow, I bet you else behind as I went for the
get a real kick out of driving that. straight-ahead exit.
He gave me the blank look of She said: That was immature.
NISSAN PATHFINDER SE 2.5 someone who doesnt She doesnt understand either.
Paul Walton understand. Truth is I dont give a damn
So Ive been shopping with her about the fuel consumption of the
Spec: SE 2.5
indoors, on the way home Im 4.7 V8, to the extent that Ive
Mileage: 81,104 approaching a roundabout gradually lost the original gently,
MPG: 30 controlled by trafc lights, the gently approach I adopted during
Recent costs: 418.44 lights are red and though Im the rst weeks of ownership and
going straight ahead I cant resist lean more towards enjoying the
Arrived: April 2015 aiming the Jeep into the right lusty performance thats available
hand lane, which is really for right with a heavier right foot. And oddly

enough, it doesnt seem to make proved to be no problem for the
an awful lot of difference, the big Jeep, I found it almost
average fuel consumption gure on impossible to tell when the
the on-board computer varies by Quadra Drive was working, partly
only a couple of tenths month on because the axle articulation is so
month, whether Ive been cruising much better with the little lift.
gently with the grandchildren on In fairness, the limit lies with me
board, taking on Golf GTis from rather than the car; the climbs
the lights or blasting around a with the most severe ruts also
quarry in low range. happened to be in the form of
Apart from the smooth revving narrow gullies, and while Im sure
of the engine the Grand is not the the Jeep would have made it to
most rened car on tarmac, mainly the top I couldnt be sure that it
because the two-inch lift which wouldnt touch the sides.
disrupted the suspension sound One of the problems of buying a
deadening, plus the rmness of car at auction is that you dont
the sports dampers, makes for a always get all the paperwork, and
rather crashy ride quality - more not having the drivers manual can
noise than vibration - but I rather be a bit annoying at times. I spent
like it, because it helps to keep me 20 minutes at the weekend trying
in tune with the machine. I really to pry the head restraints away
dont like those super-rened cars from the rear seat back so that I the internet revealed an wont dare follow it for fear of
that isolate you so much from the could fold them; I gave up. It was astonishing variety of fuse dislodging all sorts of other
road that you might as well be only later when removing some layouts, none of which seemed to connections. Theres a line fuse
playing a video game. ropes from the boot that I noticed match the panel in my car. But on it, so one day when Im feeling
And as for off-road, Im still the little knob behind each my main concern now is not brave I might pull the fuse and
getting used to the capability of headrest, which, if you pull it, ops which fuse feeds the cigar lighter, see what doesnt work, but for
the Grand with its Quadra Drive the headrest down out of the way. but what the hell is this other the moment, as I always do when
system. I spent a morning at the A little less satisfying was length of wire, joined to another Ive been ddling with a fuse box,
Slindon Safari site looking for nding the fuse box. The cigar cable behind the fuse box with a Im going to check that the
some deeply rutted climbs to see lighter socket doesnt seem to be piece of masking tape (pictured engines still running. Itll burn half
if I could nd a limit to its ability, working, so I assumed a blown above)? Its far end disappears up a litre in the process, but Im too
but even the tougher obstacles fuse. But which one? Resorting to under the dashboard, where I immature to care. BC

OUR 4X4S
Running reports
TAKE
A SEAT
SEAT Leon X-Perience SE Technology
Phil Weeden
W
hether its our of reassurance in treacherous The diesel engine is rened and
constantly evolving conditions, be they wet roads or a potent enough to deliver a
climate, or our slightly boggy eld when taking sub-eight second 0-60mph time,
supposedly leisure the kids to play football. while still claiming an average
laden spare time, crossovers are It looks stylish too, appearing mpg of 57.6. The steering is well
becoming the default choice for to be sleek despite the raised ride weighted and offers reasonable
many car buyers. The SUV height. Its practical in estate feedback. The brakes perform
market continues to grow, and guise with 587-litres of load space well, while ride and handling are
thats led to an increasing number with the seats up that increases delightfully neutral. It corners with
of car makers offering crossover dramatically when you knock the a pleasing sense of agility, while
estate cars; these are effectively rear bench down. The roof bars trading nothing in terms of ride
standard estate cars with create further possibilities for even comfort, which is decent.
all-wheel drive, a raised ride bigger loads. All in all, one couldnt wish for
height and some plastic exterior The interior is equally stylish, more. It wont climb mountains, but
trim to give it that go anywhere, well-appointed and ergonomically it appears to be kitted out to handle with no extras (ours was over 30k
do anything appearance, even if sound. As seems to be the trend of most of the daily rigours of family as an auto version with Lux and
this is largely an illusion. late, the interior eschews as much life. The only thing that makes you Park Assist options), it seems quite
I recently spent some time in switchgear as possible to provide a question such a choice is the price. expensive. A top spec Nissan
one such example, the SEAT cleaner, less cluttered fascia. At 28,870 for the manual version Qashqai is about the same money;
Leon X-Perience, which was while its nowhere near as powerful,
introduced into the UK about a nor does it have as big a boot, it
year ago. Based on Volkswagens claims better fuel economy and
MQB platform, its similar in lower CO2 and arguably better
concept to other vehicles in the off-road ability and an even higher
VW family, namely the Skoda driving position. The recently
Octavia Scout, the VW Passat introduced MINI Clubman Cooper
Alltrack and the Audi A4 Allroad. SD All4 is about 1000 cheaper
The ride height is raised by 15mm and matches the spec of the Leon,
and theres drive to the front losing out only on boot space. So it
wheels with intelligent all-wheel really requires a serious study of the
drive; the Haldex system throws spec sheets for you to decide what
up to 50 per cent of the 180bhp you want. Whatever your priorities
available to the back axle when from such a vehicle, though, the
the system detects loss of SEAT Leon X-Perience is a great
traction. So just the right amount all-rounder. PW

A LITTLE LIGHT DRAMA
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hils Everitt
W
hile I have been for a couple of weeks could easily was a scuff on the rear bumper Dammit. So it was ring up the
buzzing around in lead to a drop in psi on a tyre. It that the dealer knocked some nearest Jeep dealer and order one.
the long-term Suzuki lost about four psi compared to cash off for. To do this work I I cant bring myself to tell you how
Vitara, that has the others. It got checked and found a brilliant chap from Dial a much the light was but I needed it
sadly now left the 4x4 Magazine pumped up before the MOT and Dent who is a mobile service and and it took a few days to arrive. I
long term fleet, my Jeep Grand no fault was found. I now keep the makes good all manner of dents also had to drive a round trip of 30
Cherokee has taken rather a back dash display on the tyre pressure and scrapes. miles to pick it up. Big hurrumphs
seat. It hasnt had so much indicator to keep an eye out. One phone call and sending a all round. Still, my clever Dial a
mileage time, but during its little The more annoying problem with picture resulted in him tting me Dent man did a ne job on the
holiday there were a few things the Grand was the need for a bit of in the following week to sort the mess and tted the light for me. If
that needed attention; some cosmetic surgery. My daft other dent and scraping out no problem you have a dent on your 4x4 or
essential, others a right pain. half managed to reverse into a for a couple of hundred pounds. If scratch and live in the South East
The essential was the MOT. It street light late at night totally I went to a dealer or bodyshop Google him up and save yourself a
is ridiculous how quickly it comes sober I might add, although he that would have been lot of time, money and the possible
around every year, and, thankfully, may have been a little tired. It was substantially more and take ages. dent on your insurance. HE
my mate who runs a garage and very dark and, as I have mentioned He also said he would t the light
takes care of all my automotive before, compared to modern 4x4s while hes there if I got one sorted
needs, sends a text reminder to lovely clear and sharp rear parking before then.
make sure I dont miss the date. camera screens, the Grands is a That was the tricky bit. I went
My Grand is now seven years little fuzzy even in broad daylight. onto eBay to see if I could pick
old and I didnt expect anything When its dark, the screen does not one up a bit cheaper. I knew that
major to be wrong with it under a display a particularly clear or helpful an OE part would cost the earth
full inspection. My previous Grand image. I honestly believe he didnt and need to be shipped from the
got to nine-years old with around see the post; if he did he wouldnt USA. Sadly, eBay was not my
75,000 on the clock before things have hit it, would he? Sufce to salvation; there was only one
started to go a bit wrong, say, I was not pleased when offering for a WK model at a mere
although it never actually failed an inspecting the damage and found 85, but it wasnt the offside light.
MOT; there were just interim a smashed nearside rear light and There was a WK Overland
gearbox problems and injectors dented and scraped rear bumper. nearside on offer, but it was a
that needed replacing. The prospect of a new rear different lighting conguration that
The latest MOT went without a light annoyed me more than the I didnt know about. It seems there
hitch, although I was having a bit bumper. Regular readers will are different light clusters for the
of an issue with one tyre losing know that I needed a bit of WK Overland model. I Googled
pressure. The guys at the garage touching up on my old Grand Overland pictures and found that
suggested that due to the cold when I wanted to sell it. Then also different Grands did indeed have
weather and the Jeep sitting idle when I bought the new one there slightly different lights.

BUYING, OWNING & LIVING WITH
A PICK-UPS LIFE
A
s regular readers will know, we are new L200. For us, the idea of having a pick-up David Grant owner of a Ford Ranger. We will let
big fans on the magazine for the as your 4x4 vehicle, for work, rest and play David take up the story:
versatility of the pick-up. The Editor makes a lot of sense. It is, however, great when All through the 1990s I drove a variety of
has owned a Toyota Hilux and is we have confirmation from a reader who feels Jeeps using them for work and play, with
now enjoying a Long Term test with Mitsubishis the same, and thats certainly the case with several off-road adventures in France and the
UK. By 2004 I was still off-roading but this
time with a Land Rover 110 pick-up Tomb
Raider. It was a great truck but, after 25,000
miles in six months, I really needed something
a little more comfortable for long distances.
Ive always been a Ford man at heart, so a
Mk2 Ranger was the obvious choice. I emailed
half a dozen Ford dealers and BT05 ETE was
purchased in June 2005, ironically from
Solihull, and so began a long and on-going
adventure between man and truck. Its a 2.5
diesel 4WD Thunder in black and silver and is
without a doubt the most useful and versatile
vehicle I have ever owned. Its worked hard
and played hard almost every day for the last
11 years, delivering everything and anything
for business, family and friends; from
When it comes to towing duties, the Ranger has never disappointed Christmas trees to a ton of gravel and 30

P114: MARKET NEWS P116: CLUB NEWS P130: ODDBALLS
Above: Brand new, and very clean!

Below: Hitting 200,000 miles... tyres and a winch can sometimes be
welcome. Were also looking forward to
another off-road adventure later in the year to
the Pyrenees or maybe Portugal and one day,
perhaps Morocco.
The current mileage is 260,000 and still
climbing at a rate of 20,000 a year, hopefully
she will make it to 300k.
Running in a new vehicle for the rst 1500
miles really paid off, the original engine is still
working ne with only a hint of smoke on start
railway sleepers for the garden. On a regular up, it pulls like a train, can still touch 100mph
basis it tows a 750kg car trailer with all sorts (on private land of course) and returns 27mpg.
of classic cars on board and at one time even The Bridgestone tyres last 50,000 miles on the
carried a tractor. The dogs love it, as did the front and 70,000 on the rear, while I have to
kids when they were younger! replace the rear tail gate about every 60,000
Its an amazing vehicle off-road and is miles; on three occasions it was my fault
never shamed in the presence of Land Rovers reversing into trees, bushes and hedges and
and other 4x4s, the only slight drawback is the the fourth time a Citroen C1 decided to write
rear overhang when entering or leaving a river itself off by hitting me from behind at 30mph!
and the lack of weight over the rear axle on There have been a few more incidents over the
steep inclines, especially in the snow. Once a years; in 2007 a breeze block fell from two
month we spend the day greenlaning in and stories to smash through the rear passenger
around North Yorkshire with our good friends door window, 2008 saw the front bumper and
Dave and Liz in their trusty 1997 Toyota Land grille needing to be replaced when the car in
Cruiser, where a two-inch lift, more aggressive front at a junction started to pull off, then Above: Enjoying the wilds of North Yorkshire

CONTINUED
Back from the wood yard. You cant do this with an SUV...
Serious delivery duties My bright orange Ranger Wildtrak
with the fth now due. The windscreen has France. Early in 2016 with my rst grandchild
been replaced and also the steering box, prop on the way, Chris and Charlie decided
UJs, one rear spring, the gearbox at 200,000 something a little smaller was needed. I sold
(when it kept jumping out of fth) and at my Wildtrak and instead of paying through
250,000 the rear axle and diff. depreciation I was once again running BT05
In 2014, I actually decided to retire BT05 and funding the on-going maintenance of the
and gave it to my son Chris. I then bought a family truck hopefully for many years to come.
new bright orange Ranger Wildtrak automatic; To be continued!
another wonderful and amazing truck. When it What a great yarn, and an obviously much
was only six weeks old we had a fantastic worked and loved truck. If you have a similar
Above: Off-road driving in North Yorkshire
adventure off-road 8000 feet up in the story to David, do let us know. Just send
suddenly stopped a little quicker than I did, Pyrenees with the guys from Yorkshire 4x4. some suitable photographs and words to 4x4.
2009 was a car park shunt and 2010 it was a Throughout 2014/15, BT05 had a much ed@kelsey.co.uk. And if you are now
choice of either run over the cat or hit a tree easier life covering about 12,000 miles in the considering a pick-up as your next 4x4,
while reversing, the tree and the cat were ne stewardship of Chris, which included many remember we had a full UK market review in
but the rear wing looked a little sorry for itself. greenlane adventures and a trip with his the July issue back copies are available from
She is currently on her fourth cam belt girlfriend Charlie, camping to the South of shop.kelsey.co.uk/4x4. NF
LETS HEAR FROM YOU!

Have you got an off-road story? Do you own a new, old,
special, standard 4x4? Whatever you have, wed like to
hear from you, as these pages are where we can display
what our readers really own. Modied or completely
standard we just want a few photographs and some
details about the vehicle, why you love it, and how you
got into the off-road game. Send direct to the Editor at
4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk. Remember, its Your 4x4 Life.

Marketwatch
MONTHLY 4X4 PRICE REVIEW
SUMMER Value Jeep - a lot of car for 1350
FEVER
At what should be a quiet time for sales, as
Bob Cooke explains, demand for the SUV Autobiography awaits a
wealthy private buyer
remains strong right across Europe
S
ummer is traditionally a slow time for car cars still dont make their sellers reserve. BCA the hammer at 19,000 looked like the
dealers, with people spending on reckons fewer than 10 per cent of cars entered bargain of the month.
holidays rather than upgrading their for sale are genuinely as pristine as the seller With Jeeps the focus in this issue, it would
family transport, but that doesnt seem to be indicates, yet still have a reserve at the CAP be logical to suggest that a car auction would
happening this year because motorists across black books upper valuation. be a good source of a three-year old ex-eet
Europe are on a spending spree that doesnt car, but Jeeps dont feature prominently in
seem to be easing, and more than ever of RARE PLEASURES eets so examples that do appear are usually
them are buying into SUVs. Across Europe car It can be worth keeping an eye on auction older models. We have seen Cherokees going
sales have reached 1.32 million a month, house catalogues because cars that dont for very little money, but the Jeep name is
nearly seven per cent more than for the same meet their reserve may turn up at several obviously becoming more established,
period last year and, surprise, surprise, SUVs subsequent sales, and in all probability will because bargains are becoming rare; back in
continue to be the most popular, taking up a eventually sell for a more reasonable gure. 2008 we bought a 12-year old Cherokee
whopping 24 per cent of all new car One car that didnt reach its reserve at a Limited for 300; last month someone paid
registrations. Interestingly, the demand for recent Brightwells auction is a 2011 Range 1000 for a 15-year old one, a 2.5 CRD Sport
SUVs is showing a significant north-south Rover 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autobiography, a with 112,000 miles.
divide - most registrations were for either large one-owner 32,000 miler with a long MOT and A later model Cherokee, an 80,000-mile
or small vehicles, suggesting increased good service record. Naturally this wasnt 2006 2.8 CRD Limited, sold for 3500, well
demand for high-fashion luxury transport for going to go cheap, it may just be that on the over book value, it did at least have a current
the wealthy on one hand and wannabe day none of the bidders had enough spare MOT. Best buy was the 2003 Grand Cherokee
aspiration from the less well-heeled on the cash, more likely they werent condent of 2.7 CRD Overland with 132,000 miles and a
other, while mainstream demand for midrange being able to sell such a thirsty OTT luxury car long MOT that went for 1350, 92 per cent of
family 4x4 estates may be falling off - could it from a back-street outlet. For a private buyer top trade value but not bad for a car that could
be that, with so many jelly-mould SUVs genuinely interested in owning such a car, a sell for 3000 retail. Weve paid top auction
crowding the marketplace, the SUV concept is coming auction from Brightwells could be money for our own cars; we bid 1200 for our
beginning to lose its fashionable appeal? worth a visit long-term X-reg Grand Cherokee 4.7 V8
Strong demand for new cars in Europe is Other Land Rovers had no difculty in Limited, a car that with its thirsty petrol isnt in
good news for the British economy as UK selling at that sale, a 2011 Range Rover Sport great demand, but we wanted it. Similarly we
manufacturers increase production - over half a 3.0 TDV6 HSE with 68,000 miles and a long paid 1500 for a 2004 Cherokee 2.8 CRD
million cars built in Britain in the rst four MOT went for 20,100, right on retail money, Limited; these might sound expensive in
months of this year, more than 10 per cent up but the 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 GS with auction terms, but pocket money outlay for a
on the same period last year and three quarters 87,000 miles and still under warranty that took couple of high-fun off-roaders.
of them made for export. None of this is leading
to lower used car prices, however. British Car A Jeep, but not cheap
Auctions reports that the average value of a at 3500
good used car rose across the board in the rst
part of this year by a heady 317, equivalent to
a record four per cent, an increase that will
naturally be passed on by retailers. Good
quality ex-eet cars usually attract most
interest, but prices paid for part-exchange cars
and nearly new cars also rose.
An interesting insight explains why, even
A bargain at 19,000
though bids have reached record heights, many

Buying Guide Archive
What are you looking for?
FOCUS ON: JEEP PATRIOT We have run a number of detailed

Buyers Guides, useful if you are
GO FOR: 2011 Limited AIM TO PAY: 7000 thinking of changing your 4x4, or
buying for the rst time. Back Issues
I
t can only be the heavy, bluff-fronted wheels, they also have hill start assist. The are available by calling 0845 241
styling that kept the Patriot on the Sport+ adds cruise control, sunscreen 5159 or online at: www.4x4i.com
sidelines, because with pricing pitched controls, steering wheel audio controls Audi Q7
something like 20 per cent below that of and Bluetooth with voice recognition. The Issue August 2015
the equivalent Toyota RAV4 or Honda Limited has six-way electric adjustment for
Daihatsu Terios 1997-2005
CR-V, with excellent equipment thrown in, the front seats, the range-topping Issue May 2011
it was a very good value SUV, and a Overland has premium leather upholstery,
particularly practical one because not only rear parking sensors and tyre pressure Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999-2004
does it have excellent five-seated monitor. 3000 should secure a Issue July 2013
accommodation and a huge cargo area reasonable-condition early model, perhaps Jeep Grand Cherokee 2005-2010
thanks to its traditional estate shape, but it 4000 for a low-mileage 2.0 CRD, but Issue September 2015
also has much better off-road capability wed advise thinking in the region of Jeep Wrangler TJ
than any of its rivals. Looking like a 7000 to secure a low-mileage 2.2 CRD; Issue October 2014
scaled-down Commander, it perhaps Seven Hills of Shefeld (01142 618314)
made a more convincing alternative to the were asking 6995 for a silver one-owner Land Rover Discovery 3
Issue September 2014
late lamented original Cherokee, the Limited with heated quilted leather sports
low-set seating giving more headroom seats, privacy glass, six-disc audio Land Rover Freelander
than youd expect and the long load upgrade and new towbar, just serviced Issue February 2013
platform enhanced when necessary by the and with a new MOT. For the extra luxury Land Rover Freelander 2
fold-flat front passenger seat. The tailgate of an Overland you could pay up to 9000 Issue April 2014
is a lift-up type, one minor niggle being for a run-out model, for instance the
Nissan Pathnder
that the heavy rear bumper can make it 8989 being asked for a metallic silver 2.2
Issue October 2015
awkward to load large items, though its CRD Overland with 18-inch alloys and
essentially part of the comprehensive list satnav at Car Star of Stanningley (01132 Nissan Qashqai
of safety-related features, including 559000). Issue March 2016
side-curtain airbags and electronic stability Porsche Cayenne 2003-2010
programme with roll mitigation. Issue February 2016
Hardly had the Patriot appeared than a
Range Rover 1970-1995
facelift for 2009 saw better quality interior Issue January 2013
materials, with more padding for armrests,
chrome trim for the a softer-styled Range Rover Evoque
instrument panel and a centre console
Issue July 2015
with a split lid to boost storage space. Range Rover Sport 2005-2012
Standard on Sport models is a single-disc Issue June 2013
CD radio with MP3 capability, the Limited Skoda Yeti
has a six-disc CD autochanger and an Issue March 2015
optional Sound and Navigation Group
involving the Uconnect infotainment Suzuki Grand Vitara
Issue May 2015
system and the premium Boston
Acoustics sound system. Suzuki Jimny
Four-wheel drive is by the Freedom Issue January 2014
Drive I full-time, active four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser 2003-2009
system, which automatically switches from Issue December 2014
front to four-wheel drive when necessary,
Toyota Land Cruiser 2010-2015
backed by the Brake Lock Differential Issue June 2015
traction control; it doesnt have low range,
but good ground clearance and breakover Toyota RAV4
angles give it enough off-road capability to Issue August 2014
match a Land Rover Freelander in rough Volkswagen Touareg
terrain. All-independent suspension means Issue April 2015
its also a comfortable ride on tarmac.
Power in early versions is provided by a COMPARISON BUYERS GUIDES
VW-sourced 138bhp 2.0-litre six-speed BMW X5 v Volvo XC90
Issue May 2013
manual diesel engine, capable of returning
better than 42mpg, or a 168bhp 2.4-litre Honda CR-V v Nissan X-Trail
petrol engine with a ve-speed manual or a Issue April 2012
CVT automatic gearbox. From 2010 the LR Defender v Jeep Wrangler
turbodiesel was replaced by a 2.2-litre Issue August 2012
Mercedes-Benz unit, with a broader torque
Mitsubishi Shogun v Grand Cherokee
band and an extra 25bhp, at the same
Issue May 2012
time offering better fuel economy and
lower emissions. One additional advantage Porsche Cayenne v VW Touareg
is that the towing limit increases from Issue April 2013
1500kg to 2000kg, another that this Range Rover v Mercedes-Benz ML
engine has a chain-driven camshaft so Issue November 2012
doesnt need the regular cam belt changes
Seven-seater SUVS
of the earlier VW unit. Issue March 2014
All Patriots have the essential luxuries of
air conditioning, electric windows and alloy Suzuki Jimny v Mitsubishi Pinin
Issue September 2012

Club World
MONTHLY CLUB ACTION
Whats your club doing? Louise Limb goes clubbing to nd out
what is happening in the 4x4 Club World. If your club has news
or forthcoming events it would like us to promote, then just email:
4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk - marking your message Club News
JEEPSINTHESNOW
ORGANISER BOB SEABORN, a Barnsley- choosing the comfort of Dales bed and 2007 JKU and camped, an off-road trailer
based member of the Jeep Owners Club breakfast establishments over canvas as snow being built back home for a more luxurious stay
knew exactly where to take the eager group of and hail began to fall. This was not going to be next time. Under the snow covered Three
12 Jeeps and their owners, plus families, when an ordinary May Bank Holiday. The Green Peaks of Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and
the club decided to take a trip north for the Dragon at Hardraw provided the setting for Whernside, small groups of four Jeeps
early May Bank Holiday. Using Hardraw, near evening banter and greenlane debriengs, encountered blizzards and hail, making the
Hawes in Wensleydale as a base and exploring while Jeep drivers thawed by open res. byways a good deal more challenging and
lanes in the Yorkshire Dales and the southern Sunday evening saw some of the party camp exciting, drivers and children indulging in a spot
reaches of the Lake District, club members in the wilds, emboldened by a weekend of snowball throwing between showers.
enjoyed both dramatic landscapes and rather negotiating the rocks of The Fox, a famous A meeting after the ferry crossing from
unexpectedly, somewhat unusual weather too. lane in the Lake Districts Grizedale Forest. Hawkshead to Windermere on Bank Holiday
Jeeps new and some a little longer in the Among the participants, Chris Coyle took his Monday rounded off a fantastic family weekend
tooth, modied and standard, travelled from green JKU, Jim Olexa in Oobicon, the wifes for the JOC, with the next one already in the in
London, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire to long wheelbase JK, while Rolf Chaning-Pearce planning. Photos: Darren Hopwood and
join those from more northern climes, most and family came in the freshly fettled custom Stewart Harding

JEEPS IN TOLEDO
A COUPLE OF months ago we enjoyed a production line where World Class
peek over the shoulders of the lucky Jeep Manufacturing (WCM) methods had been
Owners Club members who attended the newly introduced to help create efciencies.
world famous SEMA gathering in Las Vegas. As Jim observed: Just in time is one thing,
While across the pond, Club Director Stewart but just in time, just in sequence meant we
Harding also captured a few snaps of the clubs saw diesel, petrol, left-hand drive, right-hand
very privileged, private tour of the hallowed turf drive, and their bespoke interiors arriving on
of the Jeep factory at Toledo, Ohio. Club the back of a truck from the supplier and
Member Jim Olexa takes up the story: coming off in precise order to meet up with the
After stops at FCA US HQ in Auburn Hills, tub and chassis that were only some 30 feet
Michigan and AEV HQ in Commerce Township, away from the arriving lorry.
Michigan, members of the Jeep Owners Club Towards the end of the production line there
were offered a private tour of the Toledo Jeep was a robot that met the nearly nished
Factory. The home of the current Wrangler and Wrangler, which proceeded to ll the vehicle with
Cherokee, the sprawling plant is located just a brake uid, oil, engine coolant and fuel, either
few streets away from the original site of the diesel or petrol, all at once via a robotic arm.
Willys factory and churns out over 800 JK As Jim noted: The JOC members were
Wranglers and 1100 Cherokees a day. extremely impressed and felt lucky to be able
The tour began with the body in white to see where the JK, new JL, and pick-up will
operation, followed by the extremely be coming down the line in the near future.
interesting metallurgy lab where countless The JOC team then said farewell and headed
hours of testing and measuring was taking west for the SEMA show in Las Vegas.
place. They moved on the JK Wrangler Photos: Stewart Harding
Keeping your Jeep in line

AS WINTER APPROACHED last year and the all four wheels. Even the 37in wheels and tyre
club forum chatter turned from outings to combination on Stewart Hardings Rubicon
maintenance, Jeep Owners Clubs Neal passed easily. Graphs appeared on screen as
Gascoine realised his lifted JK was pulling to the well as digital photos, which were stored in the
left and needed an all wheel alignment. This is system, showing where and how to adjust each
very important for 4x4 vehicles, especially with vehicle. The software even indicated which
the extra stress of moving from off-road to spanners and tools would be required to make
on-road situations on modied chassis and any adjustments needed.
springs. JOC members jumped at the chance Chris Coyle explained that with modern 4x4
when Chris Coyle, sales director at Pro-Align, the vehicles like the Grand Cherokee, the handling of
UK distributor of Hunter wheel service equipment an executive saloon is expected on the road,
and JOC member opened his specialist training with tyre wear and fuel consumption to match,
workshop doors near Silverstone for a very while off road performance is also a
different kind of club meet. Chris had spent time consideration. The Pro-Align system makes light
setting up his own four inch OME lifted 2007 work of this as well as facilitating the ne
Wrangler JK and would test, measure and adjust balancing act needed to ensure the best possible
members lifted Jeeps so the club could learn all round performance from modied Jeeps.
more about improving road handling while not Club members found the day very useful and
compromising off road ability. enlightening and Chris remarked that, sharing
An automated tyre tread depth reader knowledge and expertise is just one advantage
checked all four tyres in seconds, all six vehicles of a single marque club, while the family
passing with ying colours as youd expect, on orientated and relaxed atmosphere of the JOC
big chunky tyres. Then it was onto Hunters means an adventure shared is even more fun. He
imaging wheel aligner, the Elite TD, which feels at home and was, very happy to give
compared the data from each Jeep with factory something back on this occasion.
tolerances for camber, toe and castor angles on Photos: Neal Gascoine

Lets Go Off-Road
WHERE TO GO TO ENJOY YOUR 4X4
PAY AND PLAY SITES SEPTEMBER ADVENTURE OVERLAND

Advance warning for you to get the date in the
Here are some of the best places to go off-road in
diary; this years Adventure Overland and World
the UK. We would always advise that you call to Travel Show takes place on 24-25th September. If
check dates and times. If you have a site that ought you have any thoughts about overlanding, or just
to be included, email us on 4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk want to learn more from the experts, this is the
and mark your email 4x4 PAY AND PLAY place to go. There are always some great vehicles
there, but more importantly there are interesting
people to listen to as there are regular seminars
ASH 4X4 about other peoples adventures. All this plus club
Ash 4x4 Ltd have a Pay and Play site at Chirk Quarry, LL14 5AH, near displays, trade stands and demos. Very open and
Shrewsbury. Check the website as the venue may vary between friendly, you can camp on site and make a full
Hawkstone Park and Chirk Quarry. There are no toilets, food or other weekend of it. To nd out more call Tom McGuigan
amenities, just very good off-roading. Call Billy Hilton on 07581 030331 on 0800 180 4286 or 07958 216266 and say 4x4
or go to the website: www.ash4x4.com
Magazine has recommended you attend! For more
details go to www.adventureoverlandshow.com
AVALANCHE ADVENTURE
Run by Avalanche Adventure, this venue is at Sibbercroft, near Market
Harborough. Pay and Play days and other 4x4/off-road activities. Give
them a call on 01858 880613 or look for more details on:
www.avalancheadventure.co.uk
BALA OFF ROAD LLANNERCH YR ERYR

The Llannerch yr Eryr farm and off-road site is a very popular and
well-known pay and play site. Spectacular views over Bala lake and
surrounding mountains. Always ring to check the weather in the
winter months. 30 a day, 20 after 1pm. Call: 07850 800709.
www.balaoffroad.co.uk
BURES PIT
UK EVENTS DIARY
Large sand pit quarry in North Essex. The prices are 30 per vehicle, but
that can include up to four passengers. Theres a catering van on site. To
learn more contact Terry and Karl at events@bures-pit.co.uk or to learn
more, go to: www.bures-pit.co.uk
JULY AUGUST
DEVILS PIT 3 7
Devils Pit is 60 acres of different courses (novice, experienced and expert)
at Barton-Le-Clay, Nr Luton, MK45 4LG (A6) Bedfordshire (OS Grid ref: PAY AND PLAY DAYS PAY AND PLAY DAYS
TL078297). 26 per vehicle. Children (under 16) are free. Toilets and BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit GWYNEDD Bala Off Road
catering, rst aid and recovery facilities. Tel: 01582 883349 WEST SUSSEX Piccadilly Wood SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley
Email: devils.pit@virgin.net www.devilspit.co.uk HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road
GWYNEDD Bala Off Road WEST SUSSEX Piccadilly Wood
ESSEX, ROCHFORD & DISTRICT 4X4
Essex, Rochford & District 4x4 Club have a 4x4 site located on
10 14
Creeksea Ferry Road, Canewdon, Essex, open on the second Sunday PAY AND PLAY DAYS PAY AND PLAY DAYS
of every month for both members and non-members, check out: SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit
www.4x4er.co.uk BERKSHIRE Harbour Hill ESSEX Essex, Rochford & District
WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari BERKSHIRE Harbour Hill
FRICKLEY OFF-ROAD CENTRE ESSEX Essex, Rochford & District WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari
Frickley Off-Road Centre is near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, DN5
7BU and includes climbs, hollows, woodland and rock climbs suitable
20/21 20/21
for the novice to the experienced off-roader. 25 per vehicle, all
road-legal 4x4s welcome. Call Charlie: 07836 544335 ORGANISED DRIVES ORGANISED DRIVES
Email: offroad@frickley4x4.co.uk www.frickley4x4.co.uk YORKSHIRE 4x4 are planning a mid-week YORKSHIRE 4x4 have their regular
driving adventure in the Lake District. Check mid-week adventure in the Lake District.
HARBOUR HILL out: www.yorkshire4x4treks.co.uk Check out: www.yorkshire4x4treks.co.uk
Harbour Hill, near Aldermaston A340. Non-members 30 (10
membership, 20 for the day). Wheel washing, catering and toilets 24 21
available. Call: 07887 533168 Email: withoutaclub@yahoo.co.uk PAY AND PLAY DAYS PAY AND PLAY DAYS
www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk
WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road

We aim to make this feature the most comprehensive off-road events calendar published, and you have to admit, there are a lot of
events listed here! However, we know we can do better, but need to hear from new Pay and Play sites, clubs, associations or travel
companies. Send us the details and a couple of pictures and we will highlight your event, off-road day, expedition or weekend jolly in
these pages. Just send to 4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk mark the subject of the email: 4x4 CALENDAR
22 11
SEPTEMBER PAY AND PLAY DAYS
BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit
KIRTON OFF ROAD CENTRE
Kirton Off Road Centre is a massive 600 acre site near Kirton
ISSUE OF 4X4 ESSEX Essex, Rochford & District Lyndsey, Lincolnshire, DN21 4JH. Standard days are 40, and there
MAGAZINE BERKSHIRE
WEST SUSSEX
Harbour Hill
Slindon Safari
are often camping weekends at 75 inclusive. Check their website
or call for more details. Call Paul: 07907 450974
ON SALE 18
Email: paul@korc.co.uk www.kirtonoffroadcentre.co.uk
When was the last time you considered
your tyres? Fancy trying some bigger PAY AND PLAY DAYS LANDCRAFT
wheels on your 4x4? This month we look SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley
Offering the chance to get to some superb parts of Snowdonia, David
at whats on offer in the market and offer Mitchells experienced outt offer some great Adventure drives, and for
HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road
tips and advice about sizes and tting. We those more adventurous, theres always Adventure Plus. Paying on
have also been to this years Camp Jeep, 24/25 the day is 60 (inc VAT), pre-book and save 10. Call 07831 258864
check out the specialist production of long Email: info@landcraft.co.uk www.landcraft4x4.co.uk
ADVENTURE OVERLAND SHOW
wheelbase Toyota Land Cruisers to go on
(Check panel top left for full details)
safari and we have the maddest Lada Niva MUDDY BOTTOM 4X4
that you will ever see! All this in the The Muddy Bottom 4x4 site is located in the heart of the New Forest
September issue. Now must be the time 25
(postcode SO43 7FL). All pay and play days have an entry fee of 25,
to consider a subscription; save money PAY AND PLAY DAYS and you need to be a member (day membership is only 1, or annual
and have the mag delivered to your door. BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit membership 10). The site has a jet wash, burger van, picnic area and
Check out page 94 for the latest offers. WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari free recovery. Please note that no kinetic ropes are permitted on site,
and that you will have to jet wash your vehicle before you leave to
28
PAY AND PLAY DAYS OCTOBER avoid leaving any mud on the roads. To nd out more contact Carla on
07754 940783 or 07801 088203. Email: muddybottom4x4@aol.com
WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari 2 www.muddybottom4x4.com
PAY AND PLAY DAYS

PARKWOOD 4X4 (TONG)
SEPTEMBER SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley
Parkwood is at Tong village, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 0RR.
HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road
4 Open 10-4pm, catering, toilets, rst aid, vehicle wash, 35 per
WEST SUSSEX Piccadilly Wood vehicle including passengers - providing that there are correct tting
PAY AND PLAY DAYS
seatbelts. Call: 0113 285 4356 Email: info@parkwood4x4.co.uk
GWYNEDD Bala Off Road 1/2
www.parkwood4x4.co.uk
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley LAND ROVER PARTY
HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road (Check panel below for full details)
PICCADILLY WOOD 4X4
WEST SUSSEX Piccadilly Wood This site is operational on the rst Sunday of every month and
based at Colwood Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5QQ (just off
OCTOBER SPANISH LAND ROVER PARTY A23). Open between 10am 4 pm, the cost is 30 per vehicle.
There is free tractor recovery, toilets and the all important tea van!
This year is the 10th anniversary of registration is possible through the You can contact them on 01444 461690/07984 543886, or to nd
the successful Spanish event called website: www.landroverparty.com. out more, email: jperver@btinternet.com or go to:
the Land Rover Party. It takes place This year there will be a special www.piccadillywood4x4.co.uk
at the ofcial Land Rover Experience display of Camel Trophy vehicles.
centre at Les Comes, in Surla, just Plus, as it is an LRE event, all the SILVERDALE
outside Barcelona. The event very latest models will be there, Explore this site at Haying Wood, Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent, ST5
includes some 60km of off-road including the brand new Range 6QQ which has 53 acres of steep wooded tracks, water holes and
tracks to drive plus attractions that Rover Evoque Convertible. The mud! 25 per vehicle. Open from 10am until 4pm, road taxed
will delight all lovers of 4x4 and previous nine parties have seen vehicles. Tel: 07970 286881. Email: exploreoffroad@hotmail.com
outdoor life. Sounds good to us, and attendees from all over Europe, so www.exploreoffroad.com
even taking place on 1st/2nd could well be worth making
October should be accompanied something of a long weekend holiday. SLINDON SAFARI
with good weather. You have to If you want more information you can Slindon Safari, near Arundel, West Sussex, 10am until 4pm; 30 per
register to take part in the event, email: info@landroverparty.com
vehicle, Quads welcome, 15, all riders 16+ and theres a 10mph
speed limit. Routes for beginners and more advanced. Call: 01903
812195 or 07802 582826
Email: johnmorgan@4x4driving.co.uk www.4x4driving.co.uk
TRANS PENNINE OFF ROAD EVENTS

Club runs Pay and Play sites at various venues in Derbyshire including
Holymoorside, near Chestereld, S42 7EG; Biggin Quarry, Ashborne,
DE6 1QU and Padley Wood Farm, S45 8EL. Gates open at 9.00am
and costs are 20 per vehicle. Catering and toilet facilities.
Email: events@tpore.co.uk Check out: www.tpore.co.uk

ODDBALLS
FORGOTTEN 4X4S
SHUANGHUAN CEO
In prole, this Chinese-built SUV looks rather like the original BMW
X5, a fact that didnt go unnoticed in Germany. Paul Guinness
explains more about the vehicle and the court cases
I
f imitation really is the sincerest form of buyers seeking a home-built bargain? companys possession had to be destroyed.
flattery, then some of Chinas lesser-known The problem was that the Shuanghuan CEO December 2008 saw a similar case being
(in Europe) car manufacturers are among (sometimes referred to as the SCEO for brought in Italy, but there the court found in
the most complimentary. Whenever simplicity) looked very much like the original favour of Martin Motors, the local importer; it
European motoring journalists have reported BMW X5 side-on, with the same uplift to the was decided that the CEO was not a BMW
from Chinas biggest motor shows, theyve rearmost side windows and a very similar clone and that Italian sales could continue. As
remarked on the plethora of lookalike models, looking rump. As for the front end, that had for Germany, a second court tribunal was held
as Chinese designers blatantly plagiarise some obvious overtones of the Toyota Land Cruiser. in May 2009 only for the original judgment to
of our own continents biggest successes. Heck, even the Shuanghuans badge was be upheld, with China Automobile forced to pay
Its in the SUV sector though, where this trend scarcely original looking, as any SsangYong fan penalties and to destroy all CEOs still in stock.
is at its most blatant, with no shortage of Chinese will tell you. As for those Shuanghuan CEO models that
4x4s looking rather like Jeeps, Range Rovers None of this went unnoticed, particularly had already been sold in Germany, their
and others of that ilk. And then, of course, theres when the Shuanghuan CEO made its European reputation soon suffered thanks to poor
the Shuanghuan CEO, the ve-door SUV that so debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. A reliability and worryingly premature rusting. So
resembled the rst-generation BMW in prole German import company had been set up going appalled was one owner of a ve-year old CEO
that the German rm pursued the matter through by the name of China Automobile Deutschland (which had covered just 60,000 miles from new),
the courts with mixed results. GmbH, with sales of the CEO soon getting that he asked motoring magazine Autobild to
Launched in 2006 by Shijiazhuang Shuanghuan under way, despite protests from BMW. The end destroy it with explosives which they willingly
Automobile Co Ltd, the CEO was aimed at result was legal action, with the case nally did. As for the other few hundred CEOs that
Chinas ever-expanding SUV market, a sector in reaching a Munich court in June 2008 with managed to nd German buyers when new, it
which both European and American marques BMW emerging victorious. The court ruled that seems their tendency to corrode will ensure that
have a certain prestige. Surely a more affordable the importer could no longer sell the CEO in the vast majority disappear sooner rather than
version from a Chinese manufacturer would attract Germany, and that all vehicles still in the later no doubt much to the relief of BMW.

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BOB COOKE
Fire Breather
Deep underground we encountered a monster
that roared fearsomely when provoked. It wasnt
a dragon, but it did have a legendary drag racers
favourite Chrysler Hemi under its bulging bonnet
explains the subterranean visit to the Five

Pillars site in northern France, a massive
network of man-made caverns used as a
German ammunition dump during World War
I. When the new-generation model arrived in
2012, our Editor at Large Hils Everitt, gave one
a good thrashing along some Italian mountain
roads and never once felt the need to leave
the tarmac - read her report in the September
W
e had to go underground for this Ten things you never needed to know 2012 issue. With a 475bhp 6.4-litre Hemi
one. Not that we were in any way about the famous Chrysler Hemi: driving through an eight-speed automatic its
ashamed to be seen out in the 1. The rst Hemi engine was an inverted 16-cylinder 2500hp even quicker to the quarter mile and tops out
open with a Jeep Grand unit designed to power the Republic P-47 ghter aircraft. at 160mph. Jeep claims it also has 13 per
Cherokee that didnt have low range gearing, 2. The hemispherical combustion chamber means it can cent better fuel consumption than the earlier
its just that we needed to find somewhere to never have more than two valves per cylinder. Big valves, model; the 95-litre fuel tank should be good
prove that it really is an off-roader at heart. Well, though. for 500 miles, but it isnt.
thats not strictly true, since the heart of this 3. The rst automotive Hemi in 1950 was a 5.4-litre V8 The original SRT-8 retailed at a surprisingly
seemingly school-run friendly family estate is producing 180bhp, and was called FirePower. affordable 44,000, buy one with under
perhaps even more legendary than the Jeep 4. For 1956 the optional 355bhp version was the rst 80,000 miles on it today for a mere 16,000.
itself - the stunningly powerful Chrysler Hemi V8 American V8 to be rated at one horsepower per cubic Pay 55,000-65,000 for a new one,
in 420bhp 6.1-litre form, and thats an engine inch. depending on the options its had tted or, if
strictly for burning tarmac. The Grand Cherokee 5. The 6.5-litre Hemi of 1957 was a drag racers favourite you really want to savour the ultimate in Jeep
SRT-8 has permanent four-wheel drive - it well into the 70s. high performance, pay Nene Overland
needs it so as not to strip the tread from the 6. The famous 426 (7-litre) of 1964 was the second 80,000 for their 700bhp supercharged Wild
rear tyres in a smokin getaway from the lights. generation Hemi originally designed purely for NASCAR modication on a new or low-mileage nearly
It takes some modern big SUVs 11 seconds to race cars, but was later tted to Dodge Dart and Plymouth new SRT. With its handcrafted aerodynamic
reach 60mph. The SRT-8 hits 100 in that time, Fury when race regulations allowed only production body kit and 22-inch 10-spoke forged alloy
passing 60 just 4.4 seconds after flooring the engines to be used. wheels you certainly wouldnt want to hide
accelerator. Sheer aerodynamic drag from the 7. The street version of the Hemi was fed through two that one underground. Bob
big body limits top speed to 155mpg. Carter carburettors and produced 420bhp in Dodge
Lets put that engines specics into Charger, Plymouth Barracuda and Plymouth Superbird.
perspective. Its a 16-valve pushrod design, 8. The third-generation Hemi from 2003 is not a true hemi
normally aspirated, and it develops 420bhp at since the heads have been modied to take a
6200rpm. The 5-litre V8 in the Range Rover two-plug-per cylinder coil-on-plug distributor-less ignition
Sport of that era is a modern twin overhead system.
cam 32-valver and its supercharged to give 9. The Hemi nally made it into the Jeep Grand Cherokee in
500bhp at 6000 rpm. Its a fair comparison 340bhp 5.7-litre form, in 2005.
because in each case the power-to-weight 10. The all-new 6.4-litre Hemi code-named Apache bears
ratio works out at about 5kg per horse. The its 392 cu. in. rocker cover badging (in the US) in
Jeeps more than half a second quicker to commemoration of the rst hemi of that size from 1957.
60mph and beats the Range Rover by the
same amount in a quarter mile dash - as the Back in 2007, when we rst had a chance
Americans love to say, theres no substitute for to drive the SRT-8, we felt the need to at least
cubic capacity. pretend it had some off-road credibility, which

Speed. Courage. Glory.
C70 D-TYPE LIMITED EDITION

Sir William Lyons designed Jaguars legendary D-Type Long Nose racing car with
one purpose in mind to win at Le Mans. In 1957 the non-works Ecurie Ecosse
teams resplendent Flag Metal Blue D-Type, driven by Ron Flockhart and Ivor Bueb,
completed a stunning hat-trick of victories for the marque.
This 500 piece limited edition is a tribute to one of the nest cars and greatest
achievements in British motorsport history.

DEVON
DEVON
D DIFFerenCe
DeVOn MaKes The
bushranger
Bushranger Auto Gear offers a comprehensive range of
accessory products which are innovative and practical,
which will add to the function, safety and convenience of
your vehicle. They will also help to protect its exterior and
interior and can even add an individual touch of personality.
For more than a quarter of a century Kingsleys have been
producing quality products for owners of 4WDs & Utes and DONT WAIT FOR PAY DAY!
the Bushranger name stands out as one of the markets
true leaders. The recognisable thing in common with all
Bushranger products is their obvious quality, which is
FINANCE AVAILABLE
INSTANT DECISION
backed by a written no-fuss warranty for up to 5 years.
T: 01769 550900 www.devon4x4.com

Devon 4x4 Southlea Business Park,
South Molton, Devon. EX36 3QU
g off-road
For everythin

4x4 Magazine UK August 2016

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